February 7, 2007
Holt Ready to Shake Some Hands as New Director of Annual Giving

Allen Holt joined the Office of Resource Development in January as the new director of annual giving. A career fundraiser with more than 20 years of experience, Holt served most recently as assistant vice president of the Memorial Hermann Foundation in Houston. Originally from Mexia, Texas, Holt earned a BBA in marketing from Baylor in 1980 and went on to work in development for Baylor College of Medicine.

“I’m excited to return to higher education fundraising from health care,” says Holt. “Often, those who give to educational institutions have strong relationships with the school, sometimes many generations deep, so I anticipate some really positive interactions.”

Holt’s immediate goal is to get up to speed on the operations of the university and the McCombs School so that he can get out into the field: as with any fundraising position, the heart and soul of it is meeting people. “There are so many great philanthropists out there whose missions go beyond themselves, it’s wonderful to get to know them,” he says.

He also plans to do a lot of talking.

Holt notes that it’s just been in the last 15 or so years that public higher education has been in the fundraising game. Legislative cut-backs and rising costs everywhere have led to the need for public institutions to seek money. “At The University of Texas,” he says, “You’re also fighting the perception that the university is already well-funded, so you have to do a lot of educating on the real needs.”

But to his way of thinking, it’s not a hard sell. “Annual giving is all about the students, giving them opportunities and choices while they’re here so that they can go out and do well once they graduate,” Holt believes. “And increasing the stature of the school is good for everyone.”