{"product_id":"building-the-bear-a-mid-major-fundraising-story-9780692992272","title":"Building the Bear: A Mid-Major Fundraising Story","description":"\u003cp\u003eBetween 2012 and 2016, Mercer University Athletics (NCAA Division I member of the Southern Conference) experienced success on the field, expanded sport offerings, and achieved in the classroom. \u003cem\u003eBuilding the Bear\u003c\/em\u003e delves into the success of the Mercer Athletic Foundation - the fundraising arm of the Mercer Athletic Department charged with supporting 16 sport programs. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTopics covered include setting priorities and goals, developing programming, major gift strategies, donor cultivation and stewardship, drafting an annual calendar, marketing a fundraising operation and coordinating special events. One unique aspect of this read is the thinking behind football specific programming which came about with the return of Division I FCS football to Mercer's campus in 2013. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten by Brian Gerrity, the Mercer Athletic Foundation Executive Director and Senior Associate Athletic Director, \u003cem\u003eBuilding the Bear\u003c\/em\u003e fills the gap between the classroom and workplace. Written in part to provide a resource for young development professionals, this is a must read for aspiring collegiate athletic administrators and sports management undergraduate and graduate students. This read is a combination of text and infographics and is a real-world example of the power of strategic thinking. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBuilding the Bear\u003c\/em\u003e uses real life examples and actual strategies employed to raise funds at the Division I level. Part textbook and part case study, this read is concise, thoughtful, and packed with real world examples of the methodology behind athletic development. \u003cem\u003eBuilding the Bear\u003c\/em\u003e covers the steps taken to build a mid-major fundraising arm from a sleepy annual fund to a dynamic fundraising arm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Sabbath \u0026amp; Baron\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/27\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780692992272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 42\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.11d","brand":"Brian Gerrity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36640574111900,"sku":"9780692992272","price":8.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_a954323f-2caa-4df0-90d0-6efc54c09034.jpg?v=1603852370","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/building-the-bear-a-mid-major-fundraising-story-9780692992272","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}