advancement

K’s Advancement Leader Receives Visionary Award

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Vice President of College Advancement Karen T. Isble has been named the 2024 recipient of the Apra Visionary Award. This distinction is the highest award bestowed by Apra, the leading organization in the prospect development field, and recognizes an individual’s exceptional contributions to the field of prospect development, including volunteer service, mentorship, innovation and inclusion. In its 38-year history, the organization has only selected six recipients, inclusive of Isble.

“Karen’s innovative vision and steadfast support for data analytics played an instrumental role in elevating prospect development work. At the same time, she paved the way for many who also went on to make important and lasting contributions to Apra and the industry as a whole,” said Rodger Devine, Apra president and assistant vice president for advancement operations at Pomona College.

Isble joined Kalamazoo College in September 2020 where she guides the college’s fundraising, alumni engagement and marketing and communications efforts.

Previously, she served as associate vice chancellor and campaign director for the University of California (UC) Irvine, leading the planning and execution of the university’s $2 billion comprehensive campaign, “Brilliant Future,” which launched in 2019.

Prior to UC Irvine, Isble served as assistant vice president for development at the University of Michigan, where she oversaw prospect development, gift administration and the fund-raising information and technology infrastructure, covering three campuses, 36 schools, colleges, and units, and the academic medical center. She played an integral role in the planning and execution of the university’s $5.3 billion “Victors for Michigan” campaign.

Portrait of Visionary Award recipient Vice President of College Advancement Karen Isble
Vice President of College Advancement Karen Isble is being honored by Apra, a prospect development field organization, with its Apra Visionary Award.

Isble began her career in arts administration in roles with the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, the Goodman Theatre and entered the field of prospect research with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She currently serves as president-elect on the board of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.

“For me, Karen was an inspiration,” said Sharise Harrison, Apra board member and assistant vice president of advancement services and prospect management at California State University, Sacramento. “As someone who has been the only Black woman in the room or the most senior Black woman in advancement, she serves as someone I admire not only for her career trajectory but her kindness and willingness to help others.”

Isble is a former board member of Apra, having served as president in 2013-2014. Since then, she has participated in a number of working groups and committees, including the Apra Body of Knowledge Campaign Task Force from 2020-2022. She has also served on the boards of Apra Michigan and Apra Illinois.

Isble has been a speaker and author, regionally and nationally, with Apra, CASE and AFP, among others. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.

“Apra has been a guiding presence in my career and professional development since 1995 when I first became a researcher. I’ve been happy to give my time and energy to the organization and its members for many years at the regional and international levels,” said Isble.

Apra plans to recognize Isble in person at the Apra Prospect Development Conference, Aug. 20-23, in Seattle, Washington.

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About Apra: Apra was established in 1986 and is committed to advancing the professionals and practices that enable the philanthropic success of institutions that rely on fundraising to achieve their missions. Apra serves more than 1,800 members worldwide who drive their institutions’ philanthropic missions through work in prospect development, prospect research, data analytics and data management, annual giving, advancement, special gifts and more. To learn more, visit aprahome.org.

About Kalamazoo College: Kalamazoo College, founded in 1833, is a nationally recognized residential liberal arts and sciences college located in Kalamazoo, Mich. The creator of the K-Plan, Kalamazoo College provides an individualized education that integrates rigorous academics with life-changing experiential learning opportunities. For more information, visit www.kzoo.edu.

K’s Day of Gracious Giving is May 17

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Kalamazoo College is hosting its Day of Gracious Giving on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. The annual giving day is the biggest fundraising day of the year for the College, and the entire K community is invited to come together to provide vital support for the student experience.    

Last year’s Day of Gracious Giving raised $448,353 from 1,433 donors, not including challenge matches. Contributions of all sizes supported scholarships and financial aid, faculty resources and K’s highest priorities.  

Over the last several years, the Day of Gracious Giving has been held on the same day as K’s Day of Gracious Living, a nearly 50-year Kalamazoo College tradition where student representatives select a day off, canceling classes.    

The actual date for the Day of Gracious Living—or DOGL (pronounced like doggle), as it is often referred to across campus—has always been a closely guarded surprise for students and employees, including K’s Advancement staff, who have previously planned the giving day with only a general idea of when the date might finally fall. This year, the College has decided to designate a specific date for the giving day, keeping the spirit of DOGL while adding the predictability of a more traditional giving day.  

Day of Gracious Giving benefits students in classrooms, labs and more
Contributions of all sizes toward the Day of Gracious Giving support scholarships and financial aid, faculty resources and K’s highest priorities to benefit students in classrooms, labs and more.

As for the Day of Gracious Living, it will continue to be chosen by student representatives, its date only revealed when the campus-wide email goes out and the chapel bells begin to ring, signaling to all students: set aside your books, gather up your friends and get your sunscreen and beach blankets ready.  

 “We believe that the Day of Gracious Giving encompasses the traditional spirit of DOGL—one of joy, appreciation and gratitude—whether or not it is held on the exact same day,” said Laurel Palmer, director of the Kalamazoo College Fund.  “Choosing a date ahead of time gives the College a consistent timeframe for planning and communicating about the event. We hope that this change will allow us to reach the broadest audience possible.”  

Palmer also encourages everyone in the K community to be a part of the Day of Gracious Giving, whether it’s by creating a buzz on social media to encourage participation, offering a challenge or making a donation. 

“Making a gift—of any size—on the Day of Gracious Giving helps to ensure that students are able to participate in the experiences that make the K education distinctive.” 

If you would like to give to K, please visit www.kzoo.edu/giving and place Day of Gracious Giving in the special instructions area to have your gift included as part of the day. Your contribution makes it possible for Kalamazoo College to provide brighter opportunities for K students—preparing them to shine a brighter light into the world as alumni.  

Five Questions with VP for Advancement Karen Isble

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Karen Isble
Karen Isble came to Kalamazoo College from the University of California, Irvine, last fall as the institution’s vice president for advancement.

Last fall, Karen Isble joined Kalamazoo College as the institution’s vice president for advancement, bringing with her a broad background in development and extensive campaign experience. Isble came to K from the University of California, Irvine, where she served as associate vice chancellor and campaign director for university advancement, leading the planning and execution of the university’s $2 billion comprehensive campaign, “Brilliant Future.” Prior to joining UC Irvine, Isble served as assistant vice president for development at the University of Michigan. A Detroit native, Isble worked in arts administration and fundraising roles at the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Goodman Theatre prior to joining U of M. Isble earned her bachelor’s from Harvard University and her master’s from the University of Michigan. We sat down with Isble and asked her to reflect on her time so far at K and the opportunities and challenges facing the field of advancement.

What drew you to Kalamazoo College?

The reputation of both the College and Kalamazoo’s strong philanthropic community was a huge draw, as well as proximity to my family here in Michigan and Chicago. Honestly, though, the biggest draw was the strong leadership team and sense of community—and the opportunity to focus my advancement efforts on a smaller institution that was centered on students first. So far, my early observations have not disappointed—it’s all that I could have hoped for, even having made this transition amidst the pandemic.

What excites you most about your job?

Bringing people together—alumni, community leaders, donors, faculty, staff and students—for a united cause: access to and enrichment of higher education. I also love seeing those efforts come to life on campus—students taking advantage of all that K has to offer, faculty gaining new resources, and new and updated spaces where students live, learn and play.

What are some of the challenges for university and college advancement programs today?

Like any nonprofit institution, there’s ever-increasing competition for where donors can give their philanthropy. We’re continually working to stay ahead of the curve and to make sure our stories of why donors should support higher ed are compelling, transparent and exciting. Creating a clear path along the pipeline from marketing/communications to alumni/community engagement to fundraising/stewardship takes the work of many talented people with varying skill sets, all working in concert. There are a lot of opportunities to miss a step, and all of the steps are important.

How has COVID-19 changed the way we approach alumni engagement and fundraising?

The same way it’s changed everything, really. A year ago, we were all at a bit of a standstill across the industry, and we couldn’t have imagined that the work we do could be done any other way. Traveling with the college president to alumni events, individual in-person meetings with donors, large-scale gatherings like homecoming—they’re the key tools we use to stay in front of our constituents and keep them informed about what’s happening on campus. The pandemic swept all of that aside, and it took us some time to think about how we could (and when and whether we should) try to engage with alumni and donors virtually. We had to learn what that felt like, sounded like. Fortunately, we’ve done a good job here at K—and across the field—in embracing these new forms of outreach, and, even when we’re able to travel and gather again with ease, we will keep some of these new “tools” close at hand. They’ve helped us not only stay connected with those we were already close to, but make new connections with those who had never had the opportunity to engage with K in person.

On a personal note, what are three things people may be surprised to learn about you?

  • I’m only five feet tall—they tried to tell me 4’11”, but I’m not buying it.
  • I pivoted from pre-med student to aspiring opera singer during college. I still sing when I can, and I can’t wait until choirs can gather again!
  • I’m a sci-fi geek. Star Wars, Star Trek—I’ll take them all. I’m also a huge fan of the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Marvel franchises.

Woodworth Field Baseball Diamond Sparkles for Donor’s Children

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In 1955, Kalamazoo businessman and sports fan Thomas Woodworth purchased uniforms for the Kalamazoo College baseball team. That spring, the Hornets responded by finishing second in the MIAA conference. Woodworth then gave funds for a new baseball field at K, located near the College’s Angell Field football field. The City of Kalamazoo helped build the diamond, which was ready for the 1956 season.

Sixty years later, Woodworth’s four children returned to see their father’s newly polished ball diamond in a brand new, if familiar, setting.

In 2012, K completely renovated its aging outdoor athletics facility, replacing the old cement-block Calder Field House and rusty Angell Field press box with terrific new structures. Mackenzie Field (soccer), Woodworth Field, and the Hornet softball field were completely rebuilt on new locations within the site in order to maximize overall space and make way for a new parking lot and intramural field. Only Angell Field retained its original footprint (though it gained an artificial turf surface, new bleachers and the new Stadium Services Building compete with press box, concessions and restrooms).

Woodworth Field dedication program 1The Woodworth Field reconstruction – with new dugouts, bleachers, fencing, scoreboard and other amenities – was accomplished, in part, through the renewed philanthropy of the Woodworth family.

Recently, Thomas Woodworth, Jr., and his three sisters – Nancy Tyler, Marilyn Moise, and MaryLou Milner (l-r in the photo) – returned to K and to the ball field that bears their family name for the first time in decades. They now all live out of state.

“They were absolutely delighted to see the new Woodworth Field and to reconnect with part of their family legacy,” said Al DeSimone, K’s vice president for advancement. “I had no trouble imagining them as kids running the base-paths and sliding into home plate.”

During their visit, the Woodworth “kids” helped to dedicate a new plaque at the diamond. It reads:

“Thomas B. Woodworth Sr. and his family have demonstrated remarkable support for baseball at Kalamazoo College and in the greater Kalamazoo area. In 2012 and 2013, the family reaffirmed its commitment to the athletes who play this sport. This field, originally dedicated in 1956, bears the Woodworth name and continues to symbolize the family’s generosity and the College’s gratitude.”