FINDLAY — A new building under construction means plans and permits to the engineers, dust and noise to the neighbors, and a new office or home to the first occupants.

But to Marcia Sloan Latta, it’s an opportunity to bring people together, to renew relationships, and to create a legacy in the community.

The Bowling Green resident has spent 40 years working in higher education at three universities, a health care foundation and in government relations. This month, she retired as vice president of advancement at the University of Findlay.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to meet the most wonderful, caring and giving people from all walks of life,” she said.

During her career, she has raised funds for more than 13 new buildings or major expansions and several hundred endowed scholarship funds, ultimately impacting tens of thousands of lives.

Latta has always enjoyed “watching what a new building gives” to students and faculty, to alumni and donors.

“Place and space matter,” she said. “These are buildings that bring people together, and they give pride to the institution.”

She frequently describes fundraising and development efforts as “worthy work.”

“It gives us the opportunity to help the donor invest in other people’s lives and causes they care deeply about, and gain the satisfaction of making a difference,” she said. “We treasure and cherish these gifts.”

A college scholarship and overseas study experience of her own, courtesy of donors, made her appreciate early on what it means to be the beneficiary of others’ generosity.

Growing up in a big family on a Williams County farm, her parents helped to raise funds to build a local church and were regular supporters of the county fair, 4-H and other agricultural-related non-profits.

“I grew up around philanthropic giving, but I was totally unaware it was a professional field of work.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University, she was hired as the assistant alumni director, helping organize alumni chapters around the nation and coordinating special events.

One day, while visiting alumni with a director of development, she observed “a successful ask” and enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm of the donor for the project they committed to fund.

Latta would go on to become the first female development officer at BGSU. She earned a master’s degree in communications and a doctorate of education in leadership and policy, and eventually was appointed vice president of the BGSU Foundation and campaign director for BGSU’s first comprehensive campaign effort, the Building Dreams campaign.

Leading fundraising for many projects, she holds fond memories from all across the campus, adding with a laugh, “They are like children – it’s hard to choose your favorites.”

Several stand out, however, including the expansion and major renovation of BGSU’s Bowen-Thompson Student Union. The old union, constructed in the 1950s, was “very tired and not fully utilized.”

Her development work included “motivating the community and alumni to get excited about the possibilities.”

One of those alums was the comedic actor Tim Conway, who while a student in the 1950s, Latta discovered, had launched an early morning radio show from the union.

She contacted him to support the project, and Conway filmed a hilarious video that was shown at the farewell party for the old union. He also was a frequent guest at many sold-out alumni events, including some in Las Vegas, and was the headline act when the new union opened.

Another special building for Latta is the Stroh Center, named for the late Kerm and Mary Lu Stroh, who donated $8 million – the largest-ever private gift to BGSU at the time.

“They were such passionate and generous people,” she recalled of the hard-core Falcon sports fans and parents of BGSU graduates “who bled Orange and Brown.”

Latta also witnessed how Fritz and Mary Wolfe, donors for the Wolfe Center for the Arts, along with Tom and Kate Donnell for the Donnell Theater, shared their passion to fund a facility that inspires creative potential among students and faculty.

She cherished working with alumni Bob and Ellen Thompson, who funded the Thompson Scholars program, which has evolved to be the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program, benefiting more than 1,000 students to date.

She was impressed by the couple’s understanding of former President Sidney Ribeau’s vision “and their willingness to support an amazing number of scholars.”

Latta additionally is proud to have coordinated early efforts to help save the Falcon men’s hockey program through the “Bring Back the Glory” campaign during the time when it was undergoing strong review.

“It was very challenging but necessary to save it,” she noted. “Along with being BGSU’s only NCAA national championship program, hockey has long-term community involvement and impact and a lot of pride.”

Latta moved to the University of Findlay in 2013 to provide leadership for fundraising, alumni and parent relations, and the Mazza Museum. During her time, she has led teams that set records for revenue raised, number of endowments created, and number of donors engaged.

Through her success in Bowling Green and Findlay, she is one of few individuals nationally to lead advancement programs that have received the prestigious designation from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education of Most Improved Fundraising Program awards.

In retirement, Latta, who was founding president of the BG Community Foundation, has returned to serve again on its board. She is a founding trustee on Ohio’s State Parks Foundation board, which oversees 75 state parks’ fundraising, the Farmers and Merchants State Bank board, and National Prevent Cancer Foundation advisory board.

She advises young people interested in development to find an internship at a non-profit agency, foundation, museum, college, or health care advancement office.

“Volunteer at the United Way or for a church fundraising project,” she explained. “And prepare to listen to what people want to be accomplished with their funds. Learn to recognize what gift they find to be meaningful.”

Sitting with countless donors in boardrooms and living rooms, she said, “they thank you for having helped them through their journey of giving in the search for a more meaningful life.”