Through an alumni-led effort called Project Search, Haverford College found 72 percent of its 825 missing graduates. The project has paid off in more than renewed alumni ties, with a 20-fold return in the first 3 years of combined annual and capital fund raising. (MLW)

For small, private institutions, the real estate pooled income fund can be ideal for constructing new facilities, especially if the facility will produce revenue. Even a public or well-endowed private institution may have a unique project for which a pooled income fund may be a nontraditional funding solution. (MSE)

A $26 million Sesquicentennial Campaign at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, is described. The campaign was divided into three 18-month phases designed to push the campaign forward while inspiring confidence among trustees, alumnae, and other important leaders: setting the goal, redeploying forces, and soliciting the "Final…

Practical time management and task management advice is offered to small college communications office personnel. Workers must know how to establish priorities and stick to them, what their limits are and how to leverage time, how to promote themselves and their work, when to tap outside resources, and how to network. (MSE)

The chairman of the board of regents of a small, church-affiliated college discusses the need for and satisfaction derived from introducing potential donors to the college and the best of its campus life, particularly when the college is small, little known, and/or has a religious affiliation unfamiliar to prospective gift givers. (MSE)

Washington College, a small liberal arts college on Maryland's Eastern Shore, revitalized its fund-raising program, adding an aggressive marketing strategy and a new emphasis on major gifts. They used a three-step process: assessed their situation, solidified their development program, and used that to support a big-gift campaign. (MLW)

A study to provide some measurable benchmarks of the advancement process at small colleges is described. Data are presented on budgets, spending per function, professional staff, chief advancement officer, support staff, recruitment costs, fund-raising revenues and costs, and developing institutions. (MLW)

A study of 291 freshmen from "invisible" colleges and 239 from 6 prestigious colleges and universities and their parents investigated how the 2 sets of families with obvious different college preferences had made their choice. Geography, parental influence and approval, the "second choice" concept, and institutional…

Hallmarks of the successful church-related college include: a clear identity and distinct educational goals, loyal and vocal alumni, powerful religious commitments, an active and involved board of trustees, first-rate administration, a "good story," and intense denominational support in dollars. (MLW)

Advice for stretching the capacity of the small college public relations office includes planning well; using strategy; searching out creative ideas; choosing quality over quantity in press releases; using student and volunteer workers; developing strong media relations; accepting advice; and anticipating problems. (MSE)

Ten keys to strengthening advancement efforts in small colleges include clarifying institutional mission; knowing and articulating your market position; maintaining a long-term focus; staying aware of global trends; establishing total institutional commitment; allocating adequate resources; promoting leadership; building a selectively…

The functions of public relations offices are described for four small colleges and one small private school: Spelman College (Georgia); North Harris County College (Texas); Scripps College (California); Lafayette College (Pennsylvania); and Maumee Valley Country Day School (Ohio). Focus is on creative and effective use of a small staff and…