Understanding donor support from outreach to impact

Marcus Labropoulos is one of those rare students who knows both sides of the donor experience at Concordia.

Labropoulos has been working as a supervisor at Concordia’s Advancement Engagement Centre for the last two years, overseeing the centre’s student ambassadors on their fundraising calls in support of the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen Now.

“I love the relationship-building with potential donors,” says Labropoulos, who is studying finance at the John Molson School of Business.

As a former tight end for the Concordia Stingers men’s football team, Labropoulos witnessed first-hand how donations help student athletes. “Donors make it possible for us to perform at the highest level.”

He recalls seeing the impact of that support at his very first Stingers practice. “I was coming from CEGEP, where players have to pay for many things themselves. At my first training camp, Concordia donors provided catered meals to us in the middle of the day. It was amazing, and a great way for teammates to connect.”

The Montrealer says his Stingers experience is an effective approach to engage with potential donors. “If I call someone who played football five or six years ago, we can talk about the coaching staff or what positions we played,” he says. “Football donors understand the importance of paying that forward to the next generation.”

Labropoulos draws on his own experience to show potential donors how their support impacts athletes’ lives. “Football alumni contribute towards a designation that helps us with travel costs for a game.”

While at Concordia, Labropoulos has also felt the value of donor support on other services, such as career services and Concordia’s R. Howard Webster Library, which underwent a $40-million renovation between 2015 and 2018. “The library is so important — everyone uses it. It’s a safe place for all students to progress in their studies, or just relax and take a break with their friends.”

And at John Molson, home of the largest, oldest and most prestigious MBA case competition in the world, donor generosity makes it possible for students to travel to other international case competitions.

“Sometimes we travel to Spain or to England,” says Labropoulos, “to face other top business schools — and we couldn’t do that without our donors.”

Labropoulos has a special appreciation for the 2009, donor-supported rebuild of the John Molson School. “There’s a huge wall in the entrance with the names of each person who donated to building it,” he says. “I pass by every day, and I find it inspirational to see that people give back.”