Four questions for Fritz Schroeder

1. What's at the top of your to-do list?

We are in the final stages of the "quiet phase" of this fundraising campaign and will be launching publicly on May 4, 2013. My to-do list is all about working with our great academic leaders, fundraisers, and volunteers to build the case successfully for support and to secure the core gifts that will be announced at the launch.

2. What keeps you up at night?

Keeping a talented team of people in Development and Alumni Relations. We pride ourselves on being one of the strongest programs in the country, and that is driven by the academic leaders—deans and faculty—of the university but also leveraged by a tremendous group of professionals. Our ability to deliver increases proportionally to the length of time the many different teams that comprise our entire staff stay here. Building and strengthening relationships for Johns Hopkins is a marathon, not a sprint.

3. What's in store 10 years from now?

I think in 10 years Hopkins is going to be riding a fantastic wave of enthusiasm and support from friends and alumni. In the past few years, we've launched programs to engage more alumni, more friends, and more parents as early as we can in their connection to Hopkins. Combine that with the increasing "buzz" about Hopkins, the momentum from the campaign ... it's going to be really exciting.

4. Tell me something I don't know about Johns Hopkins.

Last year, more than 75,300 individuals and organizations made gifts to Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine. While the staff, faculty, and students of this university go about their work every day, there is an enormous team of people around the world who believe in what you're doing and signal that belief through their gifts. That's a pretty powerful statement.