Burlington, Vermont-based Champlain College recently received a $10 million gift over the next five years for its school of business from the Stiller Family Foundation. This is the largest gift the college has received since it was established in 1878. The Stiller Family Foundation was launched by Robert Stiller, the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters founder, with the goal of helping people help themselves through support for various organizations and programs.

The gift will name the Robert P. Stiller School of Business and help the college reach its comprehensive campaign initiatives. Additionally, the Stiller Foundation has requested that $4 million be earmarked to endow two Business School chairs, $4 million go toward a new Center for Communications and Creative Media and capital investments for Perry Hall as well as $2 million for an endowed fund in Appreciative Inquiry programs.

"Appreciative inquiry is a whole system, strength-based approach to change [which] has been applied in thousands of organizations worldwide ... AI works with the whole system in an organization, engaging people all levels of an organization as well as its stakeholder community," explained Champlain president David Finney. 

Organizations that are looking to raise funds through grant opportunities or local campaigns can use nonprofit financial management solutions to improve their chances of success. The software can help program leaders identify potential donors and send out applications with accurate accounting information.