Chapter 06: A Brief History of Donations to MD Anderson

Chapter 06: A Brief History of Donations to MD Anderson

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Description

Mr. Mulvey explains why, in the eighties, fundraising in southern institutions was less sophisticated than in the north. He talks about the effect that MD Anderson’s state-supported status had on fundraising in those years.

Identifier

MulveyP_02_20150519_C06

Publication Date

5-19-2015

City

Houston, Texas

Topics Covered

The Interview Subject's Story - Overview; MD Anderson History On Philanthropy and Volunteerism; Donations, Gifts, Contributions; Professional Practice

Transcript

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Interesting. Now, last time when we spoke, you mentioned that when you came on in the ‘80s, that, you know, MD Anderson wasn’t nearly as sophisticated in terms of development work as it is now. And you said something about that being kind of the case in the South. And I was wondering what that was about. You know, why were there differences regionally in this?

Patrick Mulvey:

Well, you just think of—you think of—well, we’re much younger down here than they are in the Northeast, first. And so, you have the great institutions in the Northeast that were created before many of the universities or not-for-profits here in the South and West. And so, they just got at it f—quicker, and became good at it sooner than we did. But that doesn’t meant that we didn’t catch up, and we have caught up. And if you just take a look at the University of Texas system itself, it’s one of the largest philanthropic recipients, you know, in the country.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Really?

Patrick Mulvey:

Maybe behind University of Southern Calif—I mean, California and a few others like that. So, the UT [University of Texas] system is a significant—and Anderson is certainly one of—one of the largest within the system as it relates to philanthropic dollars. But I think it’s more timing than it is anything else. For MD Anderson—and many public institutions, I would say, but I can’t speak for them; but for Anderson I can—is that, you know, when Anderson was created as part of the University of Texas system, much—a large portion of its operating budget came from a state appropriation. And so, perhaps—and this would be a time before I ever came here—the need for philanthropy was not as great as it is today, or as it was in the Northeast for other institutions and all that. And so, not as much attention was placed on it as it is right now, too. So I think there’s a number of reasons for that. There’s not just one reason. But I think, historically, if you take a look back, you’ll see that institutions in the Northeast and all that were certainly hard at this before we were.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Hm. I know from speaking with—

Patrick Mulvey:

In this region, I mean. Not just Anderson.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Mm-hmm. I know from speaking with people I know in development in Northern academic institutions, they said that often they have a real challenge, if they’re working with a state institution, for example, to convince people to give. Because the assumption is, well, this institution is being supported by my tax dollars. I’m already supporting it. Why should I, basically, do double duty on that? So, it’s a communication—you know, there’s a communication issue. So that makes sense, you know, if it’s—

Patrick Mulvey:

We face that issue from—

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Do you?

Patrick Mulvey:

—time to time, too. You know, you have some—there are—there are individuals who you need to convince that a philanthropic dollar in the front door isn’t a state dollar going on out the back door—

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Right.

Patrick Mulvey:

—or vice versa, and things of that sort. And that’s only natural. I understand that. But when you begin to talk about the mission and the vision of an institution like MD Anderson, and its real purpose, that becomes a minor discussion, if a discussion at all. But in the earl—I do remember, in the early days, us having to deal with that all the time.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Really? Yeah?

Patrick Mulvey:

Yeah. Not so much now.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

And what were your responses at that time? I mean, how did you make the case?

Patrick Mulvey:

Philanthropy raises the plateau, and it allows to create the excellence that would not come through normal funding channels, be that the state and things of that sort. That if we were going to move the needle on an institution like this, philanthropy plays a very important part. And to assure people that it’s a not a zero-sum game, you know, which you can do on paper, and statistically, and things like that. Again, not that if you get a dollar philanthropically the state’s going to take a dollar away from you. But I understand that concern, and we were able to, as you say, use appropriate communication to prove that that point was moot.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

And I’m sure having those discussions is a really important step in building that trust, that helps add another dimension to the value of the institution—that you can trust—

Patrick Mulvey:

No question.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

—the individuals who are inter—you’re interacting with.

Patrick Mulvey:

No question.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Yeah, yeah.

Patrick Mulvey:

Absolutely, absolutely. Remember, these people are giving you something with no expectation of return other than to advance the science and the care of individuals. They’re not getting a coffee maker or—

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Right.

Patrick Mulvey:

It wasn’t so much new, but it certainly became the focus.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Okay, okay.

Patrick Mulvey:

You know what I’m saying?

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Yeah.

Patrick Mulvey:

So, I mean, it’s a very special act.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

It’s very special. And, you know, it seems, too, being offered the opportunity, you know, like the theme line of MD Anderson, Making Cancer History—I mean, to participate—

Patrick Mulvey:

That’s right.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

—in this historical task.

Patrick Mulvey:

That’s the opportunity in front of them, absolutely.

Tacey A. Rosolowski, PhD:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is very beautiful, yeah.

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Chapter 06: A Brief History of Donations to MD Anderson

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