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Autonomous Fundraising
Customer Stories
VEO Fundraising Since Launch
Meet Lauren, Bucknell University's Virtual Engagement Officer
Building Pipeline from Unmanaged Leadership Annual Giving Donors with Bucknell University
About Bucknell University
​Bucknell University is a private liberal arts institution located in Lewisburg, PA. With nearly 4,000 enrolled students and 56,000 alumni, the university commits itself to cultivating intellectual exploration, leadership, and community engagement.
Strengthening Connections with Leadership Annual Giving Donors
With a rich history of alumni support, Bucknell University’s Division of University Advancement continuously seeks new ways to strengthen the donor pipeline and grow long-term philanthropic relationships.
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Prior to pioneering Autonomous Fundraising with Givzey | Version2.ai‘s Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO), Bucknell University had donors at the $1,000-$20,000 level who they weren’t able to manage in gift officer portfolios with their existing team. This essential, but often under-resourced donor segment was managed through the same types of 1-way communications as every other annual giving donor.
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Leadership sought a solution to consistently engage these donors, drive renewed and increased giving, and warm qualified prospects for human handoffs to gift officers.
Solution: Trusted Digital Labor
Bucknell leadership saw an opportunity to introduce LAG donors to a VEO, Lauren.
Lauren immediately changed the donor journey within this segment by delivering a personal and fluid moves-management journey of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to a portfolio of 1,000 donors that also encourages two-way response and provides value to the donor.
Lauren engages with donors 8-12 times throughout the year, tailors content based on interests and past interactions, and works to deepen the donor’s relationship with the university in a way that leads to the natural outcome of giving.
Meet Lauren, Bucknell University's Virtual Engagement Officer
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$388,126 raised as a natural outcome of engagement
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$119,000 raised by upgrading giving from previous year
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$42,000 raised from lapsed donors
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$10,000 largest single gift from the portfolio
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Self-Sustainability: Achieved the major milestone of covering its own cost with dollars raised
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Fun Fact: Lauren has arranged a tour of the athletics facility for a group of returning alumni, ensured a donor received a giving incentive gift, and even mailed alumni framed photos of campus over the holidays!
"The VEO has helped to fill an important gap in our fundraising strategy. We're now engaging mid-level donors more consistently and meaningfully, which helps them feel heard and valued. Lauren’s work has contributed to increased giving, offered clear insights into our return on investment and encouraged us to consider how other donor segments might benefit from similar engagement."
Amy Baker, Director, Annual Giving, Marketing & Participation, Bucknell University
Results
VEO Fundraising Since Launch
Since launch, the VEO raised $388,126—with $119,000 in donor upgrades between FY24 and FY25. Notably, the VEO also helped re-engage lapsed donors, generating $42,000 in new gifts from donors who did not give at all in FY24.
Just as important, the VEO has proven to be a vital pipeline tool, surfacing mid-level donors ready for more personalized, human engagement. With over 200 two-way engagements, Lauren provides vital insights into the passions and motivations of each individual that fuel future major gift interests and conversations.