The University of Toledo Foundation is expanding its fund-raising efforts to the Sunshine State.
UT and the private foundation that supports the university announced new leadership roles for a trio of administrators, including the creation of a full-time, Florida-based fund-raiser.
Barbara Tartaglia-Poure, the university’s former associate vice president of development at the main campus, has been named the foundation’s executive director of national development. Her new job is to increase philanthropic support for the university along the East Coast.
The new, out-of-state post represents what Sam McCrimmon, UT’s vice president for advancement, believes is the first time the foundation has stationed a fund-raiser outside of Toledo. The move follows what he said has become an increasingly common strategy for institutions looking to broaden and boost donor support. It also comes in response to UT President Sharon Gaber’s oft-repeated goals to bring in more donations and grow the university’s national profile.
Though many of UT’s 140,000 alumni live in the northwest Ohio region, there are “large pockets” of graduates living in East Coast cities such as Philadelphia and Boston, Mr. McCrimmon said.
One of the bigger groups of alumni reside in Florida, where snowbirds and retirees congregate. More than 800 alumni attended a Florida event before the Rockets football team’s December appearance at the Boca Raton Bowl, he said.
Ms. Tartaglia-Poure will work out of a home office in the Naples area and also travel to perform her duties.
“I am enthusiastic about this new opportunity and believe it will be successful in generating a significant impact for UT,” she said, in a written statement.
Her salary for the new foundation job is $127,000, according to UT spokesman Christine Long. She had been making $168,300 in her previous supervisory-level position with the university.
Brett Loney, the foundation’s previous director of corporate and foundation relations, will step in to fill her previous role on an interim basis. His salary at the foundation will increase from $117,096 to $140,000.
In a third, recent administrative move, the university tapped Jon Strunk, associate vice president for university communications, to oversee both the communications and marketing offices. The consolidation eliminated a marketing-side position, and Mr. Strunk now adds advertising to his list of responsibilities.
Mr. McCrimmon said having one person in charge of the two offices will allow the university “to speak with one voice.”
The salary for Mr. Strunk, who reports to Mr. McCrimmon, hasn’t been finalized to reflect his added duties. He currently makes $105,570, Ms. Long said.
Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com or 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @vanmccray.
First Published January 5, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
