Fund Development

In January 2006, Gary Messinger joined the Division of Athletics and Recreation, Special Programs and Projects as Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor with a major focus is on Fund Development.  He assists the Division in obtaining external funding from governmental agencies, private-sector foundations and corporations, and individuals.  The Fund Developer’s responsibilities include writing and presenting proposals, soliciting individual donors, helping others in the Division to plan and carry out their fundraising, and identifying potential sources of support.  Gary Messinger has been at UMass Boston for eight years.  Before joining the Division, he served in University Advancement where he concentrated on obtaining funds for community projects and the sciences.  He has over thirty years of experience, including positions at Boston College, the University of Chicago, and the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington DC, where he managed the awarding of grants to community-based educational projects throughout the United States.

If you are interested in exploring potential fundraising leads on your own, the Fund Development office recommends two sites on the Web that can be accessed via Google or other search engines:  Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts (which includes access to The Foundation Center), and The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which regularly provides current news and updates about funding sources and recent awards.