Philanthropy fuels SDSU excellence

After graduating from San Diego State University’s real estate program in 1976, Julie Dillon focused her time and energy on both her family and building a successful career. It would be 23 years before she reconnected with SDSU.

Once she did, Dillon became a regular donor to the university’s Fowler College of Business and other SDSU programs and endeavors. Now, she is chair-elect of the board of directors of The Campanile Foundation (TCF), a nonprofit auxiliary supporting the university’s fundraising efforts.

When asked to become a member of the board, Dillon said she was pleased. “I was very grateful for the fabulous real estate education that I received at SDSU,” she said, adding that The Campanile Foundation board is among the best of the civic and nonprofit boards on which she has served throughout her career.

“They are a remarkable group of people,” Dillon said of her fellow board members. “I have enjoyed getting to know them and seeing their passion.”

San Diego State University released an “Impact of Philanthropy Report” in October outlining how SDSU raised $132 million during the 2023-24 fiscal year that ended June 30.  Impressively 12,375 total donors contributed 14,750 gifts. 

The year saw 5,076 first-time donors, although SDSU Vice President of University Relations and Development Adrienne Vargas said a number of “pretty amazing” repeat donors contributed again this year. “They just continue to step up to the plate,” said Vargas, adding that donor retention levels at SDSU exceed the national average.

The report said donors also supported the establishment of more than 60 endowments last fiscal year. Endowments are particularly beneficial because they support future generations of students and faculty in perpetuity. 

That’s something Dillon, who owns a real estate development company, personally appreciates. In 2020 she established the Julie Dillon Endowed Faculty Fellow in Real Estate to help SDSU’s real estate program recruit, retain and recognize outstanding faculty.

Sharing stories

Dillon is a strong advocate of sharing with donors the stories of those who benefit from their gifts. “You have to connect with the donor,” she said.

When possible, SDSU fundraisers like to arrange meetings between donors and the students or faculty they support. During board meetings, Dillon said, a dean or a student guest speaker will often share a personal story of how a donor’s gift made a difference in their program or in their education.

“It helps bring it down to a personal level because the school is so large,” said Dillon. “People like to know that their dollars are going to something they can see, the impact and how it helps.”

Speaking from her viewpoint as a donor, “I think San Diego State is a very good steward of donations,” she said. “I credit that to the information they provide.” 

Vargas shares Dillon’s view of creating the connection between donors and the university community. The numbers contained in Impact of Philanthropy Report combined with personal stories, she believes, provide a better picture of how donors are boosting student success. 

"To truly grasp the extraordinary power of giving, I invite our donors to delve into this report,” Vargas said. “It reveals the remarkable ways their generosity is shaping lives, advancing knowledge, and strengthening our community.”

Although she was a non-traditional student pursuing a career while taking night classes over several years to complete her degree, Dillon describes her student experience as positive. “The quality of San Diego State was, I thought, excellent in 1976 and it's even much better today,” she said.

“I can certainly say that what I've seen at San Diego State is an environment where our students want to learn. The school keeps getting better and better and the students keep getting better and better. I just see excellence growing.” 

And Dillon is still learning. Much has changed since her student days and as TCF board chair-elect she feels the need to be up to speed with as many aspects of the university as she can.

For her and other board members’ benefit, speakers representing diverse areas of SDSU attend board meetings to deliver presentations on a variety of topics ranging from the university’s history and traditions to new programs and plans for the future.

“I feel like I'm getting an education,” Dillon said, “and the more I'm educated the more I want to give.”

SDSU’s Impact of Philanthropy Report can be found online. To learn more about making a gift to SDSU, contact Mary Darling, [email protected].