This article begins with an anecdote that serves as one of several that advancement professionals shared recently when asked to recount their worst moments in fundraising. Examining best practices is a great way to improve a development program, but looking at worst practices can also be enlightening. This article shares some stories that have…

Most administrators in higher education get to leadership positions by traveling paths that do not have anything to do with philanthropy and development. Having worked their way up through the academy, institutional leaders do not always have a frame of reference for understanding the nuances of development. In this article, the author discusses…

In this article, the author discusses how campaigns soar, in ambitions and scope, as donor requirements grow more exacting. For a glimpse at the direction in which college and university fundraising campaigns are headed, take a look at the University of Colorado. The university system's foundation is conducting its most ambitious campaign, joining…

Just two decades ago, the United States was the epicenter of wealth and philanthropy. U.S. fundraisers seemed justified in sticking close to home, since most of the prospects were in their own backyard. Now more than ever, fundraisers in the United States and other mature philanthropic marketplaces need to look beyond their own national and…

A cornerstone of intentional stewardship is measuring outcomes--essentially keeping track of the changing behavior of donors. Evaluating stewardship outcomes may require a considerable amount of work in determining cause-and-effect relationships between stewardship actions and donor behaviors, but a few tests can be revelatory. For instance, it…

In 2007 the University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Association moved under the university's umbrella after the alumni members had spent 11 years under the CU Foundation. But there were two major catches. First, the chancellor wanted them to eliminate their membership dues, as he felt they competed with the annual fund. Second, he could only make up…

The practice of naming gifts is commonplace at most educational institutions today, although naming opportunities and policies vary considerably from institution to institution. At a small college, a gift of $1,000 might result in a naming opportunity. At a large university, gifts of $25,000 to $50,000 may be required for naming scholarships or…

A survey of more than 35,000 alumni magazine readers conducted by CASE and more than 135 member institutions in the United States provides powerful evidence that, among the communications options in the advancement toolbox, magazines are one of the most effective ways to connect with, engage, and motivate alumni and other constituents. The CASE…

Since the recession struck in late 2008, fundraising has become a minefield, and even the steadiest advancement officers are unsure of their steps. For years, education fundraisers heard yes from donor after donor. Yes to large gifts. Yes to endowment boosts. Yes to scholarships and athletic facility upgrades. In the 2008 fiscal year, educational…

Just a few years ago, the University of Notre Dame averaged about six mega gifts--$10 million or more--a year. Last year, however, the Fighting Irish received only one such donation. "That multimillion donation has become more difficult to obtain," says Lou Nanni, vice president for university relations at the Indiana institution.…

Community colleges are enjoying a rare moment in the limelight right now. But part of what is being revealed by that light is just how much scrambling two-year institutions must do to keep up with increasing demands and decreasing budgets. With the recession sending many laid-off workers back to school for job retraining, and with President Barack…

In January 2009, every day brought another piece of discouraging economic news: Rising unemployment. New stock market lows. More layoffs. Retailer liquidations. Urgent company requests for government stimulus money. The recession has created a radical shift in traditional fundraising. The shift is due to a simple case of supply and demand. Faced…

Even in the best financial times, the relationship between the development office and the alumni association can be uneasy. While some alumni leaders would never try to calculate an event's success in funds raised, others find that their most important and successful events happen with development goals in mind. There may never be a consensus…

There is growing acknowledgement in higher education, particularly among institutions experiencing a steady decline in giving by graduates, that alumni donors need to be cultivated while they are students. If a school wants to have a generous alumni body giving time and money once they graduate, they need to be aware of the importance of…

As the director of alumni affairs at the University of Waterloo, the author had two questions to answer: How engaged are the university's alumni, and how can advancement professionals double the current level of alumni engagement and alumni giving? The author explored these questions, found answers, and implemented the solutions. This was the…