Fund raising at the Dole Institute of Politics is about to get a kick-start.

The Kansas University Endowment Association announced Tuesday it has appointed a full-time development director assigned to the institute, a position that has been vacant for nearly two years.

“Now we can start focusing on raising money for the endowment we need,” said Bill Lacy, the institute’s director.

Lori Hutfles, who has been at the Endowment Association since 2000 as development director of museums, will take over fund-raising responsibilities for the institute, which was dedicated in July 2003 on KU’s west campus.

The building houses the papers of former Sen. Bob Dole and a gallery on Dole’s life. It also plays host to a variety of programming on political issues.

Kerry Glasgow served as development director for the institute from February 2002 to July 2002, when she was reassigned after helping secure funds for construction of the building.

Richard Norton Smith, former institute director, was critical of the Endowment Association and the institute for not making fund raising for the institute a higher priority, and for not having the position filled. Smith served as director from December 2001 to December 2003.

Dale Seuferling, president of the Endowment Association, said he wanted to make sure a permanent director and stable programming were in place before attempting to raise large sums for an endowment.

“We really needed to wait,” he said. “We can work on raising money for the programming now that the programming is well-defined.”

Currently, the institute has about $5 million in its endowment for ongoing costs. Lacy said the goal was about $25 million.

Hutfles — who couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday — faces a challenge not faced by other academic units on campus, Seuferling said.

“There’s a need to build a broad base for the Dole Institute, which is different than your typical higher education environment,” Seuferling said. “There are no alumni per se of the Dole Institute. There is no multiyear tradition of people being involved in the institute.”

But he said the broad appeal of programs should make fund raising easier.

Lacy, who started at the institute in September, said he never had doubts about the commitment of Chancellor Robert Hemenway or the Endowment Association to the institute.

But he said he’s glad to have the help in funding the programming goals of the institute.

“I was never involved in a political campaign that didn’t need money for TV ads and print ads and other things,” said Lacy, a former GOP strategist. “The ultimate goal is to have the endowment yield enough money for basic expenses. Then you can continue to go out and raise money for other expenses or to increase the endowment.”