Out of concern for declining participation in its local alumni clubs, Dartmouth College (New Hampshire) surveyed 10,400 alumni nationally, 800 club officers, and alumni officers of 10 other colleges and universities. Resulting profiles of recent and older graduates revealed substantial population changes, suggesting the need for adaptation of…

Alumni are both a vital source of financial support and an important barometer of the institutional climate. Research studies on alumni donor motivation are summarized. (MLW)

Surveyed members of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) about compensation for advancement officers. Found that a "typical officer" is female and earns between $40,000 and $60,000 per year. Sex, level of supervisory responsibility, advancement discipline, years in advancement, years at current institution, public/private…

A survey of institutions conducting or having completed fund-raising campaigns with goals over $1 million confirmed that campaigns have different purposes and structures, and do not all include the same sources and purposes of support in their reports. Fund-raising professionals should consider the issue of consistency in campaign accounting. (MSE)

A study of content of seven major daily newspapers found coverage of higher education (excluding athletics) in 1990-92 higher than in 1987-89. Most commonly covered were students, faculty and research, budget and finance, and race relations. Editorial comment focused on cost and access. Article length remained relatively stable. (MSE)

Interviews with 30 million-dollar donors to colleges and universities, including 17 individuals and representatives of 8 corporations and 5 foundations, revealed that donors gave with the expectation of receiving some return but sought indirect rather than direct benefit: enhancement of the institution, community, or society at large. (MSE)

A survey of 300 college and university presidents found that presidents place a high value on public relations when making institutional policy and accept the public relations demands of their jobs. Public relations activities of presidents and presidents' relations with public relations staff are discussed. (DB)

Presidents and chief advancement officers (CAOs) of mid-sized independent colleges and universities were polled to determine the level of congruence between them. About one-sixth of the responses revealed near-total dissonance between presidents and their CAOs. (MLW)

A survey of CASE and three other associations of higher education administrators showed a high turnover rate (17.3%) in advancement offices. Turnover rates for functional area, type of institution, size of unit, and voluntary and involuntary terminations are shown. (MLW)

Although the 1990 survey of the membership of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education shows that women make up a majority of advancement professionals in higher education, they're still given lesser titles and paid almost 15 percent less than men with similar characteristics. (MLW)

A 1990 survey of Council for Advancement and Support of Education members found that minority members in higher education tend to be better educated, less likely to be fund raisers, and paid less. Advancement professionals at independent schools tend toward less experience, education, and pay. Two-year college advancement professionals are younger…

Senior development officers of the 56 member institutions of the Association of American Universities were surveyed to learn about the scope of their prospect research programs. Scope of programs, prospect research approaches, and information resources are discussed. (MLW)

Between 1981 and 1985, advancement officers' salaries stayed slightly ahead of inflation but didn't increase as much as other white-collar workers' salaries. A 1985 CASE survey of institutional advancement professionals' salaries investigated factors that influence salary, and gender was found to be a significant influence. (MLW)

A survey of 300 institutions of higher education found 9 factors associated with alumni giving participation rates. These included library volumes per student; average Scholastic Aptitude Test scores of entering first-year college students; percentage of faculty with doctorates; educational and general budget expenditures per student; endowment…

A followup to a 1982 survey of advancement professionals revealed that more and more advancement professionals are moving up to academe's top jobs, circumventing the traditional academic route. Respondents (n=45) said the ability to lead and to share leadership with academic staff was more important than the ability to raise money. (MSE)