This study explores the influence of sexual orientation and race on college alumni giving. The authors use qualitative methods, interviewing alumni at one university in the Northeast. They also provide recommendations for fundraising and alumni practitioners as well as recommendations for those scholars interested in student identity, fundraising,…

Head of school transitions happen for a variety of reasons. Without a doubt, however, the most stressful ones are those that are not voluntary. In the last few years, an increasing number of boards have decided to let their heads go at nontraditional transition times. In turn, this has left the school leadership staff scrambling to ensure that the…

A challenge gift helps fundraisers reach goals by stimulating multiple aspects of a fundraising program. First, the message of a challenge grabs the attention of prospects and generally generates excitement beyond the case for support. It also commands the attention of the prospect managers in an organization, particularly when the challenge…

Using a constructivist case-study analysis, we explore philanthropy toward higher education among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) alumni, examining the role of advancement staff and alumni advocates in engaging LGBTQ alumni to promote individual and community uplift. Data come from focus groups with 37 advancement staff and…

Faculty members have an important role to play in helping to fund programs and direct donor dollars at colleges and universities. This paper outlines the "golden age of philanthropy" that the United States has currently entered, explaining the combination of material resources and spiritual inclinations that have led to increased giving.…

A number of colleges and universities with widely varying sizes and missions have used direct mail techniques to improve fund raising. Methods include use of fund-raising themes, checklists of reasons for donating, gift clubs, and challenge grants. Attention to direct communication, image, and repetition of the message are success factors. (MSE)

The University of Pennsylvania's major gift officers have specific goals for interaction with donor prospects, including proportions of time spent in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Guidelines are based on staff experience, nature of the prospect pool, faculty support, campaign stage, volunteer management, administrative support,…

A public relations model provided the basis for the five-step ROPES college fund-raising model: (1) research on the institution, the funding opportunity, and the publics targeted; (2) objective setting for both office output and program impact; (3) programming to meet those objectives; (4) evaluation of the effectiveness, not just efficiency, of…

Building a college's potential for a major gift requires that (1) faculty, administrators, and volunteer leaders share a strong sense of where they want the institution to go and how to take it there; and (2) the development professional communicate that vision and excitement to alumni, community, and other possible donors. (MSE)