The Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) annual survey has collected data on fundraising outcomes in higher education institutions in the United States. It is regarded as the definitive source of information on philanthropic support of those institutions. Data from the survey are used to estimate total charitable support of all institutions of…

This is the second year that the Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey--the longest-running and most-comprehensive survey of charitable giving to U.S. higher education institutions--has been under the auspices of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The brief that follows outlines basic findings from the 2019 survey,…

The Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) annual survey collects data on fundraising outcomes in higher education institutions in the United States. It is regarded as the definitive source of information on philanthropic support of those institutions. This research brief--the first in a series--is an example of the Council for Advancement and…

Public higher education has grown to appreciate added support from charitable gifts. Philanthropic support for public higher education reaches back to the early 1900s, when public universities needed funding assistance to build campus facilities because state funds were stretched thin. To facilitate the process of acquiring, receiving, and…

This overview of the state of endowment giving comes at a time of urgent need in the nonprofit sector. With market returns uncertain, and spending restraint difficult, the moderate but measurable increase in donations in the previous year invites institutions to consider elevating fund-raising to a more strategic position within the organization.…

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)

Whether a university has a "balanced budget" is influenced by board decisions on investment, endowment utilization, and allocation of unrestricted gifts. One can only hope to protect endowment against inflation under economic conditions that make it possible to achieve a total return rate significantly higher than the rate of inflation.…

Guidelines for planning a fund-raising drive are offered, focusing on things not to do and rationales not to consider. Reasons to avoid include: "our constituency is confused;""to attract major prospects;""to get volunteers;""we are in a crisis situation;""our centennial is coming up;""rivals are having campaigns;" and "it's time." (Author/LBH)

This paper describes the process of establishing local education foundations for the purpose of raising revenues to supplement, not supplant, existing school programs. Plans to identify funding sources and define the purpose of the foundation tied to student and academic achievement must emerge in order to solicit private individuals or groups,…

Ten steps to planning a marketing strategy to increase endowments are identified: conditions of fund, ways to establish funds, guidelines for funds, good business practices, enduring nature for fund, recognition of donors, corporations, periodic reports to donors, etc. (MLW)

The American Camping Foundation (ACF) supports educational and charitable activities of the American Camping Association (ACA) and provides leadership to ACA's financial development. During 1994, ACF established the Morry Stein Memorial Fund, contributed to the endowment and public awareness campaign, hired an investment management firm, and…

Much has been said and written about the need for measuring accurately and improving the investment performance of college and university endowment funds, but little has been written about how colleges and universities should report on the status and performance of the investments of endowment funds. When guidelines for reporting are adopted, a…

Endowment funds, created from private donations, have recently become a new funding source for public schools. Once endowed, these funds provide schools with extra monies that earn interest until they are needed. This publication describes how to start, develop, and profit from public school endowment funds. Initial considerations in setting up an…

This study examines major issues in, and effective practices for, private funding for elementary and secondary public education in British Columbia. The sources and allocation of funds for school districts and schools were investigated, along with their funding practices. Using data on funds obtained from a representative sampling of 13 districts…

Guidelines for state colleges and universities who wish to use a foundation as an umbrella organization for receiving all private gifts, restricted and unrestricted, are presented. In examining the need for a foundation, attention should be directed to: establishing credibility, marshalling volunteers, providing for a mechanism for accepting life…