Original Query from Jo-Ellen Unger, Academy for Learning in Retirement, Saratoga Springs, NY
Other than funds from sponsoring colleges and tuition/membership/class fees from members, how are other ILRs funded? We wondered if any have corporate sponsors, or include a business membership. If there is a corporate sponsor, are there any requirements attached ie. name or logo printed on ILR brochure? Any information you can send us would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

From Anita Revelle, Senior Professionals, IL
Yes, we have four corporate sponsors that pay $500 a year. For their funds they get recognition in our flyers (twice a year). These go out to over 4,000 seniors, businesses and organizations in the community. We have also made a poster that is displayed at all of our classes. The sponsors consist of a bank, funeral home, a retirement home and a corporation that is involved in nursing homes, assisted living and other family issue services. We find that our attendees don't seem bothered by this and it does help our budget. Any questions please contact me.

From Jo Brownlee, Saginaw Valley ILR, MI
The Saginaw Valley State University ILR (in Michigan) does have corporate sponsorship options. From $300 - $10,000 packages. I would be happy to send Jo-Ellen a summary of what a company gets at the different giving levels. This year our goal is $8,000. (Our first year of operation we got two companies to give at the $10,000 level, but the novelty has worn off.) We also solicit year-end individual giving which filters through our advancement office. We explain the tax benefits of giving to a state university in our letter. Our goal this year is $3,000 in individual gifts. We are doing a one-day fundraiser through Barnes and Noble in which 20% of the proceeds from noon - 5 p.m. on a given day go to our organization. People have to use a coupon we plan to distribute widely. We are considering newsletter advertising, but I'm not so sure I want to go there.

From Burnell Held, Front Range Forum, Fort Collins, CO
We had an opportunity to receive sponsorship from a real estate agent but turned it down. They wanted to display a banner showing the firm's name at some of our social gatherings. We felt perfectly capable of supporting ourselves without selling any "naming rights."

From Sandra Kerr, LIFE Program, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ont. Canada
This is always an ongoing issue for us. Our learning in retirement organization does not receive any funds from corporate sponsors or donors. They do receive enough funding from their membership dues and course fees to cover their own costs as the sponsor university (Ryerson University) covers their space costs. However, one of our other older adult learning organizations - a theatre school for seniors - have more problems in raising funds in particular to support their performances. They have been investigating finding sponsors, but at the moment have not gone too far. Part of the problem is ensuring that the corporate sponsor will be well featured ...as you have indicated...and is interested in the mission of the organization. I do know of another seniors’ organization who have their newsletter sponsored by a corporate donor and their logo is prominently featured on the newsletter in every issue. Hope this helps...

From Gary Dickinson, Society for Learning in Retirement, Kelowna, BC
I'm responding to the inquiry about "extra" funding on behalf of the Society for Learning in Retirement (formerly Okanagan Institute for Learning in Retirement, Kelowna, British Columbia. Our key sources of funding are course fees and memberships. We have no outside sponsorships or grants. About a year ago we started to fund-raise and have raised some $3,000 to this point, mostly from our own members.

From Norm Smith, ASPEC, Eckerd College, FL
We do have a business sponsor. While we have no specific requirements on publicity, we do have a banner with the business name used for events they help sponsor. We actually bill them, with specifics as to what the money will be used for. Meetings are held over the year to be certain that both parties are content with the relationship.

From Nancy R. Schweingruber, ILR, Bluffton College, OH
Other than an occasional donation from members or their families (in honor of a 50th wedding anniversary, in memory of a member who has died, etc.), we operate solely on tuition and sponsorship by Bluffton College.

From Bob Manning, Unlimited Learning, MN
We are new (just over a year old) and small--so our experience may be quite limited. However, our funding is from the methods listed below (non-member class fees and membership fees). This is our base financial support. We have received 3 grants so far that are targeted toward specific needs. These supplement and enrich our offerings. We chose this path because of our desire to be financially self-sustaining. Hope this helps!

From Marge Yanker, The Learning Exchange, SC
TLX at the University of South Carolina Beaufort does accept gifts although these have been very minimal. We sell advertising to local businesses for all our publications. We receive no money from the University and pay for all our expenses, including indirect costs and rent to the University.

From Sara Hardman, LLI, Bard College, NY
Our membership fees cover all of our costs plus a surplus. We also make donations to our sponsoring institutions. We don't have any need for additional funding.

From Dr. Pauline Christensen, Learning Club, MN
The Winona State University Learning Club has been able to obtain some funding from our state Humanities Commission in order to promote the study of the humanities. We have been able to use the funds not only for programming, but for some infrastructure support of the organization.

From Louisa Strock, Center for Lifelong Learning, OH
For more than ten years our Center for Lifelong Learning has been the Community Service project for Beta Zeta chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international honorary for women in education. We are in the chapter budget, and in addition, members help me on site at our seminars. There would be a chapter near --or several -- and they all have community outreach committees. It's the largest of the women's education honoraries, but there are a couple of others, too. If you want to follow up on this, I could help with some contacts. Good luck !

From Lorene Porsild, Comox Valley ElderCollege, BC
With reference to your enquiry regarding ILR.'s funding, we advise that our Comox Valley ElderCollege is a non-profit society, and we are a program of North Island College, a college for 2nd age learners. North Island College in turn provides the infrastructure, office help, and resources at cost. Our instructors are volunteers, being reimbursed only for expenses incurred in connection with teaching the course. We also receive use of the Library, Bookstore and participation in College sponsored events. Our Membership fee is $10.00 per year and course fees are $30.00 per course. Our fees are spent as follows: AudioVisual Equipment, Photocopying, Advertisements/Promotion, Gifts (books) to all faculty, Volunteer Appreciation Events, Computer Supplies, General and Office Supplies, Publications, Lecture Series Expenses, NIC Support Personnel Expenses, Contingency Fund, Donation to NIC (any surplus goes to purchase equipment that can be used by both C.V. ElderCollege and N.I.C. We are operating in our 5th year and to date we have never had any need for any outside funding as we have stayed within our Budget. We continue to work well with North Island College and we credit this to our Inter-Generational aspect that happens when one is located at a college for second- aged students. Each semester, one of many computer courses is taught by college computer students and ten seats are reserved for college students who want to attend our lecture series. Some seniors who teach the ElderCollege computer courses will in turn teach the College instructors how to operate the Power Point Projector, so they can use it in their classes. The key to our success is that our ElderCollege is reliant on its volunteers. Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

From LeAnne Stuver, Rose Institute for Life Long Learning, OH
We are fortunate that our main funding comes from a family endowment through the Menorah Park Foundation. We do list the fund on all of our course brochures and publications.

From Sharon Sokoloff, BALI, MA
BALI has received one "sizable" gift from a Trust for a period of 5 years, $250,000 or $50,000 for each of the 5 years. We got this gift because of the leadership and work of our University President, Jehuda Reinharz, who does fund raising on behalf of BALI. We did not change our name but acknowledge the Trust when we do activities that are funded by the gift. We are in the process (an ongoing, long process) of exploring "endowment" funds that will enable us to cover some basic, fixed expenses, e.g., staff. It is possible if we were to receive funding of this sort, there would be a name change or "naming opportunities" associated with the receipt of funds. This is a topic that we don't make decisions about. Rather, the University Development Office and Brandeis President use "conventions" to make these decisions. For example, a faculty chair that is endowed is associated with a gift of a certain amount. That would be the same as far as BALI is concerned. I would be open to having a phone conversation with Jo-Ellen about this...there are some things related to this topic that are easier to talk about than write about in such as open forum as this.

From Noreen Frye, Institute for Retired Professionals, FL
No corporate sponsors here.....But, here's an idea I'm working on and that's Friends of IRP - those that may not have the time to do the classes, etc. but may be interested in knowing about special events, trips, concerts, etc. - that designation has a minimal cost to cover mailings and support the organization but allows them to be involved and participate in the extra events and "member/student" prices.

From Diana Marsilje, Hope Academy for Senior Professionals, MI
Hope Academy of Senior Professionals (HASP) operates with a membership fee ($90.00 per person per year) and a nominal course fee ($5 to $10 depending on the course length). We have no other source of income and run with a positive cash flow. Our policy is that we do not pay honoraria to speakers at our monthly program meetings or classroom instructors. To the extent possible we use members but college faculty and other outside experts are used for specialized topics. We are fortunate to have a wonderful relationship with our sponsoring college. We rent both office and classroom (seats 100+) facilities from the college at their direct cost only. College services are also provided to us at the college cost. We receive no funds from the College. Costs are kept to the minimum by presenting our monthly newletter and classroom materials in a neat and readable format but not flashy or high-gloss. Our emphasis is on the learning component and our members seem to appreciate the fact that costs are kept low. Best wishes in your efforts to build and maintain a strong institute for learning in retirement.