August 23, 2022
Dear Colleagues,
As we look forward to another exciting year, we have a tremendous opportunity to take
our corporate relationship building to the next level. FSC is on a trajectory that
is unrivaled, and corporations are taking notice. With that said, we run a great risk
of shortchanging ourselves when our collaborations are not strategically coordinated.
I write today to introduce to you, and in some cases re-introduce, MaryEllen DeCicco,
our Director for Corporate and Foundation Engagement. MaryEllen works closely with academic leadership and her development colleagues
to prioritize and execute fundraising programs and initiatives that will attract significant
corporate and foundation philanthropic support. When you are engaging with organizations
and industry, it is important to work closely with MaryEllen to assure our business
partners have a smooth, seamless, and positive experience with the College. This will
allow us to be very strategic in our approach, maximize its fullest potential, and
provide sustainability to new and existing relationships for the College.
As Director of Corporate Engagement, MaryEllen works closely with companies to develop
mutually beneficial goals and identify engagement opportunities. MaryEllen has a great
understanding of what we do at the College and is excellent at creating and managing
relationships. In addition to prioritizing your goals for the relationship, MaryEllen
can help to identify other opportunities including helping with research, certifications,
and microcredentials as well as recruiting students and assisting with student-facing
initiatives. MaryEllen can help align department and program goals with the College’s
goals and the corporations’ philanthropic interests and core values.
A critical aspect of our fundraising plan is to build stronger, more authentic and
mutually beneficial corporate partnerships. Our goal is to increase the quantity and
quality of interactions that faculty and students have with the business community.
MaryEllen serves as a connector and facilitator by linking faculty and staff with
specific companies, helping to establish goals for each corporate relationship, and
facilitating the growth and maintenance of those relationships.
Please contact MaryEllen to discuss any previous corporate relationships you have established on behalf of
your work at the College and your intentions to engage corporations in the upcoming
year prior to your outreach efforts. She will be happy to share valuable insights
that will ensure the maximum benefit for our students and the College.
We look forward to working with you and wish you a wonderful start to the new semester.
Matthew Colson
Vice President
Development & Alumni Engagement
