A member of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering development team, major gift officer David Mattox, ’05 marketing and ’08 MBA, worked with donors to help facilitate 43 committed proposals. The last time a development officer cultivated connections resulting in more than 40 gifts was in 2014 by Carole Ann Fowler, who served as a development officer for the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business at the time.

Relationship-based philanthropy means matching an individual’s or corporation’s interests and charitable investments to an area of need within the university. Which makes Mattox’s accomplishment that much more meaningful.

“I didn’t think I was going to work on more than 40 gifts this year,” Mattox said. “But several gifts came in all at once as a result of ExxonMobil’s matching gift program.”

The ExxonMobil matching program – a partnership allowing alumni and friends of the college to enhance their contribution through ExxonMobil’s generosity – solidified Mattox’s 2019 results.

“David’s accomplishment is notable,” said Derek Dictson, senior director of engineering development, “especially because the donors he is able to work with and assist in fulfilling their charitable goals highlights the outpouring of support the college receives from dedicated alumni, faculty and friends.”

In addition to his career in philanthropy, Mattox has displayed a personal commitment to the College of Engineering. In 2016, he and his wife Stephanie Mattox established an annual scholarship for engineering students.