Like any profession, advancement has its terms of art: "the ask," "prospects," "quiet phase." A relatively new one is "culture of philanthropy." As in, "We need to build a culture of philanthropy at this institution." The general idea is that everyone from the campus CEO to the students understands…

The current financial crisis in higher education is driving more public institutions to look at alternative ways to generate support. Many are leveraging longstanding relationships with private corporations, seeking ways to expand their involvement. Supporters who once simply made philanthropic contributions are becoming strategically involved…

The trend toward expanding the role of foundations has intensified during the recent recession and is likely to continue. More than 40 states this year cut funding for public higher education, according to Grapevine, an annual study of state support of public higher education produced by Illinois State University's Center for the Study of…