National Board Member Resource Guide

National Board Members

A listing of National Board members, their locations, and some bios is available at lsufoundation.org/nationalboard. Out of respect for your privacy and your time, we do not share membership contact lists with colleagues outside of the LSU Foundation and Office of the President, nor with fellow National Board members.

LSU Foundation Team

For general questions or feedback, please email nationalboard@lsufoundation.org. To connect with a specific LSU Foundation team member:

Primary National Board Contact
Rachel Rhodes
Associate Director of Donor Engagement
225-578-0773
rrhodes@lsufoundation.org

National Board members have special access to meaningful engagement with LSU leaders through quarterly virtual calls, an annual in-person summit, and periodic regional events. Invitations are typically extended via the monthly National Board e-newsletter and Outlook calendar invitations.

Occasionally, additional events provide opportunities for a limited number of National Board members to partner with LSU on strategic engagement of donors and prospective donors. We will be in touch to personally invite you as those opportunities arise.

• June 2025: National Board Virtual Call (Tentative)

• September 11-12, 2025: National Board Summit

The National Board e-newsletter is distributed on the first of each month. It typically includes a message from the chair, details about upcoming events, and recent LSU news links. If you are not receiving the monthly e-newsletter, please contact us: nationalboard@lsufoundation.org.

Looking for a quick way to explain your role on the LSU Foundation National Board? We suggest leveraging the following talking points:

Version 1
We’re champions for academics. We make connections with people who are invested in LSU’s success, and we reach out to donors in our area to say thank you.

Version 2
We are a group of over 100 alumni and friends who live in cities where LSU graduates have a significant presence. Our role is to be ambassadors for academics – to get supporters as excited about the university’s academic achievements as they are about LSU’s wins on the field. We help connect LSU with people and companies that are invested in the university’s success, and we reach out to donors in our area to offer a personal thank you for giving to LSU.

Strategic Purpose

The LSU Foundation National Board is a network of volunteer ambassadors with a shared purpose: to catalyze transformational philanthropic support for LSU through advocacy, regional engagement, and campus involvement. Chaired by an LSU Foundation Board member, the National Board has more than 100 members, inclusive of the LSU Foundation Board of Directors.

Opportunities & Expectations

National Board members are invited to serve three-year terms, for a total of six years. The National Board is non-fiduciary. Members commit to fulfilling six important responsibilities:

1. Refer or introduce prospective donors: individuals, corporations, and/or foundations.

A referral could be sharing the name – or facilitating a warm introduction – of someone you’ve met who has a passion for LSU or who has a strong network in an industry related to LSU priorities.

• Members are asked to make two referrals or introductions each year.

2. Make LSU a personal philanthropic priority.

Members’ personal support of LSU positions you to lead by example as you encourage others to invest in academics at LSU.

• Members are encouraged to consider LSU in their personal charitable giving.

3. Participate in occasional donor events in your area (if applicable) with university and foundation leaders.

Participation in LSU events in your area, whether as a host or an attendee, strengthens LSU’s relationships with alumni and friends. Many times, a personal invitation from a member to a guest catalyzes a philanthropic opportunity.

• Members are contacted first when LSU leaders go on the road for opportunities in their region.

4. Engage through exclusive in-person activities and remote campus involvement.

Members are invited to participate in quarterly meetings (primarily virtual) that provide insider access about topics of particular interest to the National Board. Additional opportunities are offered on occasion, and members receive a monthly e-newsletter.

• Members are encouraged to participate in at least two meetings annually, including the in-person summit, and to review the e-newsletter each month, which may include actionable items.

5. Invest in LSU Giving Day as a donor and/or ambassador.

Thousands of LSU alumni, students, parents, friends, faculty, and staff come together each year for LSU Giving Day, an online giving “event” that engages LSU supporters in making contributions of $5 or more.

• Members have opportunities to sponsor challenge gifts, serve as peer ambassadors, and make an impact through their personal philanthropy.

6. Be an advocate for LSU.

Focusing on academic excellence, share personal stories and news from LSU with your personal and professional networks.

• Members’ have a vital role in galvanizing support for LSU by encouraging others to engage with LSU, advocating on behalf of LSU during professional and social conversations, and even sharing stories and content on social media.