At the Loyola Clinical Centers (LCC), Loyola University Maryland’s interdisciplinary training facility, we have been fortunate to receive support from the university for our fundraising, marketing, and strategic planning efforts.  Two steps taken by our clinic were instrumental in gaining this support.

           First, our clinic underwent a strategic planning process in 2007. With help from students in our Executive MBA program, we gathered a team of faculty, administrators, deans and vice presidents for a two-day retreat, and identified five strategic objectives for the next five years (Interdisciplinary Training and Service Provision, Community Outreach, Research, Public Relations, and Internal Operations).  Because of this clearly defined plan, with periodic, objective assessment of our progress, the LCC  was well positioned when the university developed its own strategic plan in 2008, and achieving national recognition for the Clinic became one of the university’s five key strategic goals. Second, after careful analysis of our balance sheet, we identified that the LCC operated “in the red” primarily because of fees discounted for low income clients.  We average an approximately 50% discount rate overall.  Once we reframed our financial losses as an example of the good work we were doing in the community, the university administration began to see our Clinic as an example of “mission in action.” Today, our Clinic is frequently mentioned by our President as a cornerstone of our Jesuit mission; we’ve hosted a reception for our Board of Trustees; and provided community service data that helped earn Loyola’s  designation as a Carnegie Community Engagement university

As a result of these efforts to engage with the university’s broader mission and goals, we have benefited from access to, and support from, administrative offices in the university such as Advancement and Marketing/Communications.  Ultimately these efforts have resulted in increases in referrals to the Clinic, graduate applications, and philanthropic support.

     Mary Jo Coiro, Director, Loyola Clinical Centers,
                    Loyola University, Maryland.