Face Time With a University President Accelerates Donors’ Giving

Rand Berney has been giving to Kansas State University almost since the day he left campus in 1977 with his undergraduate degree in accounting.

Whether through recruiting K-State graduates to work for Phillips Petroleum Company in the 1980s, serving as a guest lecturer at the university’s business school, or contributing to numerous fundraising campaigns, Rand—along with his wife, Patti—has been closely entwined with the university all his adult life.

But despite their longstanding support of the university, the Berneys say they have never felt as connected to it as they have since the arrival of Kirk Schulz as Kansas State’s president in 2009.

“For the first time, we have been really hearing clearly what his top priorities are and why,” says Mr. Berney, who retired from ConocoPhillips as senior vice president for corporate shared services in 2012.

“We have confidence in his leadership,” says Mr. Berney of Mr. Schulz. He adds, “That has really been the connecting point for a lot of the larger donors. The clarity of vision was there like never before.”

Private support at Kansas State has been rising steadily during Mr. Schulz’s tenure. Fundraising grew 43 percent from 2012 to 2013, up to $108-million last year, which put Kansas State at No. 197 on the Philanthropy 400, up from No. 340.

Generous donors like the Berneys have played a key role in that growth.

The family has contributed $11-million over the past three years to support the construction of a new college of business, improved facilities for the football and basketball teams, and the construction of the Berney Family Welcome Center.

The welcome center will provide space for new and prospective students to learn about the university and house services that will help new graduates make the transition from college to the working world.

The Berneys say their support isn’t the result of a hard sell by the university’s development staff. Instead, Mr. Berney says, they have accelerated their giving as they have gotten to know Mr. Schulz.

“We have spent a lot of time together,” Mr. Berney says. “To be able to trust someone, you have to know someone. Kirk spent time with Patti and I and got to know us personally first.”

During their conversations, the Berneys say they have had the opportunity to learn about Mr. Schulz’s long-term vision for Kansas State, which is centered on having the university ranked among the top 50 public research institutions in the U.S. by 2025.

And while Mr. Schulz has been clear about his vision—and how capital projects can help achieve it—he has never made an overt ask.

“He doesn’t come out and say, ‘This is what we need you to give,’ " Mr. Berney says. “It’s more ‘Here’s the vision. Here’s why it’s important.’ He lays it out for you, and then he allows the donors to find their passion.”