Talk about impact on a budget! Texas State University has been awarded Second Place in the 2025 Association of Donor Relations (ADRP) International Stewardship Awards, Small Budget category, for its groundbreaking Gift Compliance Communication Portal. This one-stop internal platform has revolutionized how the university manages donor gift funds.
Built entirely in-house without external consultants or added staffing, the Gift Compliance Communication Portal was launched in 2025 by the Stewardship team within University Advancement. It provides faculty and staff with on-demand access to essential donor fund documents, including Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), compliance overviews, activity reports, award spending data, FAQs, and training resources all in a user-friendly SharePoint interface.
“This award is a celebration of what’s possible when you mix innovation with accountability,” said Amber Phifer, Executive Director of Donor Engagement. “We created a tool that bridges the gap between donor intent and internal stewardship. It’s empowering, efficient, and helping Texas State uphold the highest standards of accountability.”
Since its launch, the portal has logged nearly 14,000 visits from academic units and has become a central resource. Users across the university, from deans to department coordinators, are now able to independently access fund information and reporting tools, improving transparency and reducing delays in getting much needed funds into the hands of our student, faculty, and staff beneficiaries.
“The ADRP award reflects Texas State’s commitment to stewarding every donor dollar with transparency and care,” stated Brooks Hull, Vice President for University Advancement. “The portal is more than a tool; it’s a promise to our donors that their generosity will be honored with the highest level of accountability and I’m proud of our team for leading the way with an innovative solution that strengthens trust and makes a real impact on our students and faculty.”
Texas State will be featured at the 2025 ADRP International Conference in Montreal later this year.
Texas State University Wins International Award for Innovative Donor Gift Compliance Portal
Built entirely in-house without external consultants or added staffing, the Gift Compliance Communication Portal was launched in 2025 by the Stewardship team within University Advancement.