A comprehensive digital platform designed to support endowment fundraising and alumni engagement has been presented to stakeholders of the Kwame Nkrumah University. It details how institutions can manage campaigns from setup to donation tracking and reporting.
The University Information Technology Services (UITS) explained that the move to develop a unified platform was necessary due to the growing number of endowment funds and donation channels across the University. The Deputy Director for Software Development noted a widely held view that donor preferences vary significantly. According to him, a potential benefactor may be more inclined to support a specific hall or unit, rather than donate broadly to a College, reinforcing the need for a flexible yet centralized system.
The presentation highlighted how campaigns are first personalized with institutional details such as logos, colours, and payment options, including USSD. After approval by the Finance Office, dedicated sub-accounts are created and campaigns are activated. Once live, each campaign features a customised page displaying fundraising targets, total donations, leadership messages, and key information. The platform also tracks engagement through features such as top donors and recent contributions, offering real-time visibility into fundraising progress.
A live demonstration showed how donations can be made through mobile money or card by providing basic personal details. Upon successful payment, donors receive automated receipts via email. The system also accommodates offline donations, allowing administrators to input and track contributions made through cash, cheque, or bank deposits, ensuring all transactions are centrally recorded.
On the administrative side, the platform offers a dashboard for monitoring performance. Users can track total funds raised, number of transactions, and generate detailed reports, which can be exported for further analysis.
The KNUST College of Engineering was duly represented at the session. Notably, the College had earlier demonstrated foresight with the launch of its Endowment Fund on 14th October 2022, an initiative that remains an integral part of its strategic plan. This effort is geared towards driving its vision of advancing from excellence to eminence.
Overall, the platform was well received by participants, with a general consensus on its potential to streamline fundraising efforts across the University. There was strong optimism that, once fully launched, both current and prospective donors will find it significantly easier and more convenient to make contributions, ultimately strengthening endowment growth and institutional development. It is envisaged that this initiative will go a long way to support the fundraising efforts of the College of Engineering.
