Ep. 74: Breaking Records, Building Belonging: Inside UNC Charlotte’s Advancement Playbook
From Talking Tactics by Dayana Kibilds, Safaniya Stevenson
May 12, 2026 · 40 min · Episode 74
About this episode
This episode discusses UNC Charlotte's innovative approach to university advancement and fundraising strategies.
UNC Charlotte is rewriting what modern university advancement can look like—fast, collaborative, and deeply rooted in place. In this episode of Talking Tactics with Safaniya Stevenson, Beth Krigler and Penny Hawkins unpack how the “For the Love of Charlotte” campaign helped fuel a record-breaking surge in giving, including an extraordinary rise in non-alumni engagement and a fundraising trajectory that’s set to hit its $500M goal years ahead of schedule. From building a culture of “getting to yes” to breaking down silos across athletics, academics, and alumni relations, this conversation reveals how intentional alignment, shared language, and community-driven strategy can transform fundraising from transactional efforts into sustained momentum.
People in this episode
Host: Safaniya Stevenson
Guests: Beth Krigler, Penny Hawkins
Topics covered
- university advancement
- fundraising
- community engagement
- collaboration
- non-alumni engagement
Keywords
- UNC Charlotte
- fundraising
- For the Love of Charlotte
- community-driven strategy
- non-alumni engagement
- collaboration
- advancement playbook
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: UNC Charlotte, For the Love of Charlotte
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