Uses a ballooning analogy to offer nine suggestions for universities conducting major fund-raising campaigns: study the map and choose a direction; test the prevailing winds; choose and train your crew; gear up for the journey; stay on course; make every bit count; change course as needed; and capitalize on your successful landing. (DB)

A training manual for volunteer fund-raisers is presented. The technique of soliciting is described and an interview with top volunteer Jerome Stone on fund-raising is included (MLW)

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)

This article offers college and university administrators 23 ideas for encouraging corporate matching gifts from annual fund donors. Principles include spreading the word to donors; collecting company and donor data; approaching companies directly; segmenting the donor pool; integrating programs; and following leads. Also suggested are ways to…

This article describes several university fund-raising programs that encourage the use of credit cards and electronic fund transfer in alumni giving. Noted are some problems and guidelines on setting up the system, working with the bank, appointing an in-house expert, and maintaining personal contacts with donors. (DB)

A strategy for seeking grants from major foundations is presented. A five-step process includes: preparation, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. A grant from one of the private foundations in the country brings not only cash but also important national visibility to a campus. (MLW)

To raise money for endowment, there needs to be a mix of strong leadership, solid fund-raising technique, and confidence-inspiring endowment fund management. These ingredients have helped Berea College increase its endowment to more than $100 million. (MLW)

This article discusses techniques for calculating the net worth of prospective college and university donors, explaining how to base a net worth calculation on known statistical averages. It then reviews several formulas for estimating a person's giving ability. (MDM)

Guidelines for managing fund-raising programs are presented including: recognize variability of costs, understand salaries as major cost, compare institution only with its peers, manage volunteers well, allocate enough resources for the long-range development of young alumni and planned giving, pursue endowment gifts, etc. (MLW)

The annual Comparative Performance Study of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) contains data on the endowments of 223 colleges and universities. It can help answer many donor questions. (MLW)

New concentrations of wealth in the United States have not been accompanied by increased private philanthropy for higher education. To inspire large gifts, college development professionals must build a compelling case for transforming education. (MSE)

The modest foundation that publisher DeWitt Wallace established for Macalester College (Minnesota) in 1981 suddenly became $200 million in 1990. Previous strategic planning has laid a foundation for decisions regarding use of the assets, which will be used to strengthen the faculty, curriculum, student opportunities, and facilities. (MSE)

Offers guidelines for creating a strategic plan for a college or university's annual fund. Identifies benefits of strategic planning and describes six planning approaches using examples from various institutions. Two planning prototypes, from McKendree College (Illinois) and the University of Southern California, are included. (DB)

Guidelines for conducting an annual fund at colleges and universities stress the importance of aggregate donor behavior and donor value, rather than solicitation technique, in driving strategic planning and goal-setting. Suggests fund raisers track three measures of donor participation: donor retention, lapsed donor reactivation, and new donor…

The case statement ranks as the most important piece of literature in a fund-raising campaign. It describes the purpose, program, and financial needs of the institution. Ways to approach writing case statements are provided. (MLW)