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)

Explores the complicated relationships between donors, their financial and legal advisors, and planned giving officers. Offers advice for planned giving officers on managing the relationships among "allied professionals," particularly respecting the relationship between donors and advisors while seeking solutions that best serve the…

Suggestions to institutions of higher education on how to go about selecting a planned giving consultant include ask colleagues from other institutions whom they've used in the past; examine written proposals from a wide range of firms; look for chemistry and credibility; check references; and button down the terms of the consultancy. (MLW)

Institutions can capitalize on the ties alumni and friends have to a particular unit of the university. The question of how to organize fund-raising efforts both to take advantage of this loyalty and to get individual units more involved is discussed. Four models are described. (MLW)

Four articles on direct mail include "On Target"; "Writing Better Letters" (Conrad Squires); "Divide and Conquer" (Lee Royce); and "Fifty Ways to Increase Your Response Rate" (Judy Myers). (MLW)

The University of Illinois used teleconferencing to ignite volunteers and leaders for a five-year capital campaign. The program was live with two-way audio communications from meeting sites back to the main studio. Suggestions for planning and organizing a teleconference are presented. (MLW)

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)

Two books on private donor decision-making are reviewed: "Decision Making in Foundations: A Case Study" by A. Hope Williams and "Factors Accounting for Variations in Levels of Private Giving to Higher Education in the United States" by Sally Spaid Drachman. (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)

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)

Every planned giving administrator's ultimate responsibility is to serve the institution of higher education and not the donor. Planned giving administrators should instruct donors to consult a financial adviser because they cannot fill that role. (MLW)

A blended system strikes a balance between centralized and decentralized fund-raising. Fund-raising should concentrate on serving the needs of people, not just on raising dollars. (MLW)

Conventional wisdom says that young alumni do not give, but evidence suggests that this is not true. The young alumni at Iowa State University, however, constitute the largest group of donors. Factors that are encouraging young people to give are described. (MLW)

The future of American higher education now depends on its ability to attract more and larger gifts for endowment. Comprehensive strategies that include all the ways to increase endowments are presented. (MLW)