The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of increasing fund development at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Increasing the endowments at HBCUs means placing more emphasis on cultivating alumni and educating them about the importance of philanthropy. Advancement professionals at these specialized institutions…

Fund-raising mailing must be well conceived and executed in order to hold its own against competing charitable organizations as well as commercial firms offering sweepstake prizes. An appeal letter is seen as the most important piece in any direct-mail effort. (MLW)

Building a big alumni gift club with a small staff by using volunteers and making special gifts a priority is described. Ways to identify donors, pick the contact, cultivate the donor, entertain, ask for the gift, and say thank you are offered. (MLW)

The corporate community must continue to offer tangible (financial) support to help ensure the future of U.S. colleges and universities. Suggestions from a corporate donor include: approach those companies that make up a natural constituency; encourage gift-matching; spread the base of support; consider higher tuition fees for engineering and…

Annual giving is defined as support for the current operations of a college or university. The annual fund constituency is described (alumni, parents, friends, and, perhaps, corporations and foundations). The case for a strong annual giving program and its relationship to the total development program are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Paid phonathon solicitors may raise more money in the short term, but using paid callers, it is suggested, will undermine college volunteer programs. Phonathons are seen as a fund raising technique. Committed involvement is seen as fundamental to fund raising success. (MLW)

Anecdotes about fund-raising from the experiences of a variety of institutions reveals that communications problems, in various forms, are at the heart of many fund-raising problems. Among the ideas presented are the use of large donors to solicit other donations, trustee assistance, persistence in asking support, and alumni matching funds. (MSE)

One of a college development staff's greatest responsibilities is seen as helping the president and the governing board's nominating committee to build the board's fund raising potential. Developing a board profile can assess current strength in fund raising and other areas. A sample board profile form is provided. (MLW)

The paper summarizes what is currently known about fund raising in higher education, and proposes priorities for research that will better inform fund raising practitioners. Research on fund raising has been limited for such reasons as lack of interest by the professoriate and the relative recency of the major professional association of fund…

Adopting management by objectives is a way to improve the operation of small college development offices and increase the tenure of the development officer. The MBO concept is discussed as a means of setting goals, determining ways to accomplish goals, and measuring success. A development office statement of objectives is included. (MLW)

The role and responsibility of trustees of private colleges in fund raising are discussed. Four areas are identified: (1) concentration on large gifts, (2) alumni financial support, (3) the voluntary support of the friends and non-alumni of the college community, and (4) deferred gifts. (MLW)

As their graduates assume increasingly powerful civic and career positions, community colleges should utilize alumni as potential sources of fiscal and community support. To do so requires an alumni affairs organization through which the college and its alumni can be of help to each other. Colleges can provide former students with opportunities…

This report examines trends in voluntary support for higher education between 1980 and 1994 based on analysis of the Council for Aid to Education's annual survey on voluntary support of education. It reviews how philanthropic support for higher education compared with support for other charities and how this level of support changed over time. It…

Human resources internal to the college or university (presidents and development staff) and external (trustees, volunteers, parents, alumni, political figures) can be indispensible in making personal contacts and impressions for fund-raising. Written materials and followup procedures are also important fund-raising elements. (MSE)

Cultivation is described as the process by which an institution maintains a strong and healthy relationship with its constituencies and potential constituencies. Constituents include students, parents, alumni, and friends. The development office and the alumni office must share common goals and purpose. (Author/MLW)