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•  General Regulations

•  Conditions of Eligibility - Candidate and Host Insitution

•  Basis of Selection

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•  Sample Application Items for TD Fellowships in Advancement

•  Selection Committee

•  Testimonial

•  Recent Fellows

These fellowships are made possible by TD .

The deadline for submissions for the 2013 TD Fellowships in Advancement is January 15, 2013 .

CCAE strives to promote professional development through external partnerships in response to the critical shortage of trained advancement professionals in Canadian universities and colleges and independent schools. From 1987 to 1997 a program in university development, known as the McConnell Fellowships, existed to encourage the recruitment and training of development officers. The Meloche Monnex Fellowships, created in 1998, and made possible by Meloche Monnex and TD Bank Financial Group, allowed three incumbents annually, selected by the CCAE, to be trained in alumni affairs. In 2003 the scope of the Fellowships was expanded to cover educational advancement in a broader sense, allowing incumbents to gain practical experience in at least three of the major areas of advancement: alumni relations; development; communications; and student recruitment.

1. General Regulations

A TD Fellowship in Advancement is tenable at any member institution: university, college, cegep, or independent school, which is a member in good standing of CCAE and which is willing and able to assume the responsibilities of acting as a host training institution.
Two Fellowships will be awarded annually, on merit, and will be allotted with due consideration given to geographic and linguistic diversity. The Fellowships may be held for a maximum of one year. Total value of each one-year Fellowship is established at $37,500. TD through CCAE will provide this amount to the selected member institution. Of this amount, $32,500 will be paid as a bursary to the Fellow. The Fellowship includes $5,000 that will be used by the institution to defray conference, travel and training costs for the Fellow. Additional funds provided to the Fellow are at the discretion of the host institution.

Candidates are required to attend two annual CCAE national conferences, at the beginning of the fellowship year and at the end of the fellowship year. The host institution is responsible for arranging for its Fellowship holder to attend these sessions and the conferences.
The host institution will ensure that the fellowship holders submit two mid-term reports and one final report to CCAE.

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2. Conditions of Eligibility

The Candidate
• The Candidate must be a Canadian citizen or a person of landed immigrant status.
• At the time the Fellowship is assumed, the Candidate must have completed all requirements for a diploma or degree from an accredited Canadian university, college or cégep within the past five years, e.g., between 2008 and 2013.
• The Candidate must not have held a full time, permanent position in institutional advancement prior to application (contract positions are acceptable).
• The Candidate agrees to submit to CCAE two mid-term reports (November 15th and March 15th) and a final report at the completion of the program.
• The Candidate agrees to attend 2 CCAE national conferences: for the presentation of the Fellowship at the beginning of the term and for a report on the fellowship at the end of the term.
• The Candidate will provide all information requested on Part A of the application form.

Host Institution
• The host institution agrees to host a Fellow for a twelve-month period, during which time the Fellow will rotate through at least two areas of institutional advancement (including alumni relations, development, communications, government relations, and student recruitment). These may include two specific areas within an advancement discipline – such as major gift fundraising and annual fundraising; social media programs for alumni and developing alumni events; publications creation and work with news media, etc.
• The host institution agrees to develop and submit an application with a detailed program outline of the assignments to be covered in the 12-month period. This outline will clearly articulate what the institution can and will provide to the Fellow and what it expects from the Fellow. The application should also include a professional development plan, two letters of reference and budget.
• The host institution agrees to appoint a senior staff member to oversee the Fellow’s training program and ensure appropriate implementation and follow-up.
• The host institution agrees to maintain ongoing contact with the Chair of the TD Fellowships in Advancement Selection Committee and to report on the progress of the Fellow’s program. The host institution will also ensure the Fellow submits two mid-term reports (Nov. 15th and March 15th) and one final report (June 15th) as required to CCAE.
• The host institution agrees to provide the Fellow with relevant resource materials and a variety of professional development opportunities including attendance at two CCAE national conferences – one at the beginning and one at the end of the Fellowship term.
• The host institution will ensure the Candidate meets all criteria, in particular with respect to eligibility to work in Canada and educational requirements.
• The host institution will not submit an application for a Fellow if it has held a TD Fellow award in the year of, or the year immediately prior to, the current application.
• The institution will provide all information requested on Part B of the application form.

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3. Basis of Selection

The Selection Committee will be looking for qualities of intellect, character, aptitude and (to a lesser extent) relevant experience in candidates. The TD Fellowships in Advancement will be awarded to candidates whose personal qualifications and experience are judged to be those best suited to work in the field of educational advancement. Strong consideration will also be given to the host institution's proposed project and training program.

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4. Application

The senior advancement professional at the host institution will be responsible for selecting one candidate to submit to the Selection Committee and for ensuring the eligibility of its chosen candidate. The following must be included in all applications:
• Online completion of Part A by the candidate.
• Online completion of Part B by the host institution.
• Detailed program outline which includes the work to be covered, the professional development plan and a budget.
• A cover letter from the candidate outlining his/her qualifications to become a TD Fellow, and a factual list or resume outlining principal activities, including volunteer activities, honours and awards (one page).
• Two letters of reference recommending the candidate for the Fellowship.
Candidates currently in contract positions (and who have graduated in the past 5 years) are eligible for a Fellowship. Projects submitted for such candidates must show clear expansion of existing responsibilities, new projects and/or program changes. Projects submitted for a Fellowship cannot be extensions of current projects.

• The candidate must answer the following questions and email their responses to the email address fellowships@ccaecanada.org :

1. What do you consider to be the most serious issue (s) facing Canadian colleges and universities today? (No more than 500 words.)

2. How can/should advancement departments (alumni relations, fund raising, communications departments) support the mission of Canadian colleges and universities? (No more than 500 words.)

• The host institution must prepare a statement, as outlined below, and email it to the email address fellowships@ccaecanada.org :

Please prepare a statement of support for the candidate covering the following points (No more than 500 words):

1. The candidate’s experience and qualifications to be a TD Fellow.

2. The candidate’s most outstanding relevant accomplishments.

3. How this candidate will fit into your advancement team and what you expect their major contributions to be.

All online forms, supporting documents (by email or courier) and letters of reference (by email or courier) must be received by January 15, 2013.

Terry Cockerline and Celina Mantler
Co-Chairs, Selection Committee
TD Fellowships in Advancement
Email: fellowships@ccaecanada.org

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5. Selection Committee

The Selection Committee will include at least five members: a Chair, appointed by the Board of CCAE and at least four of the following: one representative from the CCAE Board; a senior advancement professional from one of the previous host institutions; a volunteer from the field of advancement; two additional members selected from the membership of CCAE. A representative from TD will sit as an observer on this Committee.
After the initial screening of applicants, a short list of candidates may, at the discretion of the Committee, be interviewed prior to the final selection. Applicants will be advised of final selections by February 15, 2013, and the formal announcement made at the CCAE Annual General Meeting in June.

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6. Procedures after Selection

All Fellowships begin no later than June 1. Postponements or advancements may be arranged in exceptional circumstances.
Should a Fellowship candidate withdraw from the program after having been selected, no substitution of candidate will be allowed.
The Selection Committee will then select another institution and candidate from the original applications.

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Testimonial

The Impact of a TD Fellowship: Carleton University

Carleton University received a 2012-13 TD Fellowship in Advancement based on an exemplary and wide-ranging Fellowship program for an outstanding candidate: Matthew Prowse. Below are comments on the progress of the Fellowship to date, and on the importance of the TD Fellowships for the advancement profession, by the director of Carleton’s TD Fellowship: Mark Savenkoff, Director, Alumni and Donor Relations. Matthew Prowse, holder of the TD Fellowship, also shared his observations about the Fellowship.

Q. While Carleton is just a few months into its 2012-13 TD Fellowship experience, what are the main goals and achievements of the Fellowship so far? Are you anticipating "course corrections" along the way?

Mark Savenkoff:

I am pleased to report that we are well on our way to reaching the main goals of our proposal. Notably:

• We engaged our Chancellor’s Scholars at an alumni luncheon that featured our current chancellor and proud Carleton alumnus Charles Chi. It was an excellent opportunity to recognize and engage Carleton’s academic stars while providing them with the opportunity to meet prominent graduates.
• A significant amount of legwork has been done to create a comprehensive strategy to promote a student levy in support of the university’s fundraising campaign. We remain optimistic that the student levy will be supported during a spring 2013 student referendum.
• In consultation with numerous campus stakeholders, the outline for a new signature university event during Winterlude was developed. The event will capitalize on Carleton’s perfect winter location on the Rideau Canal, and will engage our students, alumni and friends with the greater Ottawa community.
• Follow-up continues on developing a fourth-year send-off event that will launch new graduates into their post-Carleton years with the full support of the Carleton University Alumni Association.

Additionally, as a result of the Fellowship:

• Alumni Relations hosted a booth at Convocation Reception (June 2012) – 3,800+ attendees
• There was an alumni component to student leaders Orientation Training (September 2012) – 400+ participants
• University Advancement hosted a booth at Fall Career Fair (October 2012) – open to the entire student population
• Carleton hosted a VIP tent at TD Ottawa Jazzfest – June 2012 (sold-out event) – 150 attendees. Alumni, donors, and student influencers attended a headline show featuring Chris Botti, world-renowned jazz musician, as well as Julie Nesrallah, a prominent and successful Carleton graduate.
• We hosted a recent-alumni event, Tasting at the Clocktower Brewhouse in October 2012 (sold-out event) - 50 attendees. Participants were treated to a private tasting, including a seasonal release, led by Clocktower’s Head Brewer; attendees learned about the creative processes involved and ingredients used to produce this popular beverage.

Q: At the end of the Fellowship period, what difference do you hope Matthew's contributions and presence will have made in Carleton's advancement and student life portfolios?

A: By the end of the Fellowship, I expect that Matt will have successfully educated and engaged a larger portion of our current student body and recent alumni audience about the value of continuing to be involved at the university after graduation. Matt’s initial success has been as a result of his ability to focus on the value proposition for each respective target group, and his passion has further enabled him to be a proud ambassador for University Advancement, Carleton University, and the Carleton University Alumni Association.

It is my hope that as a result of the Fellowship, we will have a solid long-term strategy to engage current students and recent alumni in an effective and sustainable way that is consistent with the collegial nature of our school spirit. By supporting the student experience and school pride, current and future alumni alike will benefit from a growing network of engaged grads.

Q: What suggestions can you offer to schools considering a TD Fellowship application that will help them structure a meaningful, successful application?

A: I would suggest identifying a good match between the position description and the Fellow. The ability for an Advancement department to foster a lifelong tradition of enduring pride, support and investment in the school by alumni and students is key. The challenge is articulating how one position can make a significant amount of headway in this regard within a one-year window.

Q: What impact do the TD Fellowships have on the advancement profession?

A: TD Fellowships enable CCAE member institutions to engage new members in the advancement profession and give them real-world experience in a supportive, stimulating and educational environment. Fellowships foster a culture of creativity and a spirit of optimism that permeates throughout the rest of the Advancement team as new ideas are brought forward. Fellowships also serve to strengthen Advancement units in a way that makes sense for a specific institution, be it in alumni relations; development; communications; or student recruitment.

Matthew Prowse, TD Fellow in Advancement:

Q: What are the key experiences you've had so far at Carleton as a TD Fellow?

A: Beginning in August, I met with the leaders of Carleton’s student governance organizations (Carleton University Students’ Association, Graduate Student Association, Rideau River Residence Association, and Carleton Academic Student Government) to consult with them on upcoming Advancement initiatives (e.g., Homecoming 2012, CIS Basketball Championship Host 2013, and the Student Life Pledge). My aim was to better establish an alumni-student relationship and to provide an opportunity for student leaders to raise issues where we may be able to act as a resource. Preliminary feedback as a result of these meetings has been extremely positive and helpful in establishing an open dialogue between our office and student organizations on campus.

Raising awareness of alumni initiatives—in relation to the broader university experience—remains an ongoing program objective. Many opportunities exist to educate students on the benefits of alumni involvement post-graduation. I’ve also begun to tailor events to engage this specific demographic (i.e. recent alumni and upper-year students). This has included demographic-specific marketing for community-wide activities and hosting specific events dedicated towards the engagement of this group. My ideal attendance targets for these activities remain in the 30-50 person range, pending venue capacity. The concept is that respectively small groups will allow for increased connectivity with unique attendees who have not otherwise been engaged.

Finally, I have developed an Alumni-Student Engagement Framework that outlines the proposed program approach towards increasing alumni-student interaction at Carleton through Advancement, on behalf of the Alumni Association. Program goals are defined as:

• To inform the general student body about the role of the Advancement and the Alumni Association.
• To start building mutually beneficial, lasting relationships with student and community leaders.
• To promote increased connectivity between student organizations and associated alumni chapters.

Q: What do you hope to gain, and to contribute, by the end of your Fellowship?

A: Initially, insight and perspective were at the forefront of what I had hoped to gain via this Fellowship; to experience a basis of understanding towards a field that is increasingly essential for institutional continuity, but somehow remains relatively unknown to the very community it supports. Building awareness and respect is now my focus.

Advancement, philanthropic in purpose, provides an opportunity to engage privileged demographics. As a recent grad, I can admit I initially believed that my tuition funded the whole, or at least significant majority, of my educational experience. Yet, I now know this was not the case. There is a broader community at work, often behind the scenes, that endeavors to create the buildings, programs, and people that comprise every institution. By the end of this Fellowship I hope to have planted the seed that will combat this misconception and begin to establish institutional connections among students. They are the basis of future alumni understanding. The alumni experience is not mutually exclusive of its student counterpart, but a continuation of it.

Q: Do you have a career plan or goal, or is that still evolving?

A: Had I been asked this question a year ago, I would have unequivocally answered that I wanted to be a teacher at the secondary level. I truly appreciate the chance to teach, engage, and see firsthand, the natural progression as concepts successfully take root in the minds of those whom you teach.

Before this Fellowship, I had been accepted into the B.Ed. program at the University of Ottawa. Yet, I chose to accept the Fellowship, for much the same reasons that I love to teach. It was an opportunity to meaningfully engage students, thus something I had to pursue. In regards to my career future, I remain open to the field of Advancement. The prospect of working to create a seamless transition, between student and alumni understanding, in favour of an institution’s community-wide experience, is extremely appealing.

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Recent Fellows

Contact information for recent Fellows is below. Please feel free to contact them if you have any questions about their Fellowship experience and/or their Fellowship submission. 

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