Donna Schaeffer

Donna was born and grew up in Portland, the only child of parents who had lived through the Great Depression and managed after the war to build a life of modest means. Asked by her 7th grade teacher, Mrs. Nagel, if she planned to go to college, she responded: "My family can't afford to send me to college." Mrs. Nagel's retort, "My dear, you can't afford not to go," provided a lesson that stuck with her. It was a time when young men far outnumbered young women in higher education and those young women who did go to college often chose the traditional roles of teaching or nursing.

She became the first one in her family to attend college, and with few financial resources, she looked to Portland State, then just six years old as a degree-granting institution. She worked her way through college, making use of short-term loans and stipends earned from her service on the Vanguard, and graduated in 1966. Her post-college years were spent in the field of public relations and advertising where she enjoyed the creativity and fast pace but felt something was lacking. Against the backdrop of the 60s, the world was changing and people were seeking more meaning in their lives.

She had a lucky break when an alternative school hired her to write grants to match a federally-funded education grant for at-risk middle and high school youth. The idea that she could help kids and make an impact on their future was compelling. After returning to Portland State in 1980 to earn a Master's of Social Work degree, she worked in the emerging field of development, raising funds to establish a health care clinic for low-income and uninsured people in North Portland, and raising funds to shelter and care for the homeless. This challenging and rewarding work enabled her to match funders' interests to the needs of people who had little or nothing. It enabled her to redistribute some of the wealth, and provide people with new opportunities which they would otherwise not have.

While earning her master's degree at PSU, Donna met her future partner, Pat. Together for nearly 30 years, they have enjoyed a loving and compatible partnership, enlivened by a happy succession of pets (Labrador Retrievers mostly), good friends, travel, a mutual devotion to progressive politics, and a shared belief in social and economic justice.

In 1992 Donna returned to Portland State, to help lead the Annual Fund program. Later on, she helped build and lead the development team as Development Director. When she became the Assistant Vice President for Development, she helped lead the Campaign for PSU, working with a talented team of development professionals who raised a combined $114 million for the University. The campaign helped build a new Engineering building, grew scholarship support, and funded a wide range of programs and professorships. Donna also led the private fundraising for the Native American Student and Community Center which opened in 2003.

Since retiring from PSU, Donna has founded her own business, Donna K. Schaeffer, LLC, and has served as a fundraising consultant for several nonprofit organizations in the education, social service, and health fields. She also teaches Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations for the Institute for Nonprofit Management at PSU. 

Clearly, Portland State's role in her life has been supremely important. It was the place where she earned two degrees, the place where she returned to work, and the place where she is able to share her knowledge with others through teaching. Donna chairs the School of Social Work Advisory Council at Portland State, and has served on the board of the Willamette Valley Development Officers, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Oregon Chapter, and Bradley-Angle House.

So many have been important in shaping her life including her grandmother, Clara Whitney Schaeffer; her parents Don Whitney Schaeffer and Grace Cameron Schaeffer; teacher Hulda Nagel; PSU professors Wilma Morrison, Michael Reardon, Nancy Koroloff and Norm Wyers; former PSU President Dan Bernstine, and many good friends and colleagues including Barbara Jilk, Steve Martin, Jean DeMaster, the Clarke family, Happy Hollow friends, Emily Munro, the Chance family, Debbie Murdock, Leslie Aaron, Regina Borum, Gary Withers and others.

Donna Schaeffer was honored by her fellow development colleagues in 2005 on the occasion of her retirement from the University. She is grateful for the opportunity to be included among so many distinguished honorees, and remains indebted to her colleagues for their generous and affectionate support.

Locate on Walk:

• Naming Wall (Right Wall), 2-1