An institutional development audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a program, its operations, and its people. Information is analyzed to assess: institutional mission, personnel and organizational structure, financial resources, program management, communication, and overall program effectiveness and efficiency. (MLW)

The relative success of a college fund-raising campaign in the current uncertain financial climate depends on (1) whether the college is in an economically troubled area; (2) how far the institution is into its campaign; and (3) base of giving (whether corporate, middle-income individual donors, or old money in other fields). (MSE)

An institutional advancement administrator draws on experience running an office with limited resources to offer suggestions to others, including putting basics in place first, then fine-tuning them, and developing a do-everything publication, a plan for special events and fund-raising, an annual giving structure, and a strong core of volunteers.…

The experiences of three institutions (Oberlin College, Ohio; University of Nebraska; and St. Christopher's School, Virginia) illustrate how effective a carefully developed marketing scheme for planned giving can be. Staffing, budgets, average funds raised, and average deferred gifts are reported for each. (MSE)

Although volunteers serve many useful functions in fund raising, soliciting gifts should be left to staff. Volunteers are hard to recruit, keep, motivate, are unreliable, lacking in expertise, and they can balk at the realities of development tasks. Development offices should carefully think through the appropriate roles for these individuals.…

The University of Arizona's experience with a small-scale fund-raising project to establish a memorial scholarship illustrates that the development office's efforts in guiding a motivated group of donors can pay off. Planning elements included establishing a team, delegating tasks, handling mail and telephone calls, generating enthusiasm, and…

Research was conducted to investigate: (1) whether institutions with any formal campus-wide planning process are significantly more effective at fund raising than their counterparts which lack such a process; (2) whether institutions that engage in overall strategic planning are significantly more effective at raising funds than their peers which…

Arguments for and against formal alumni chapters are outlined. Pros include increased membership, better leadership, and strengthened development potential; cost effectiveness is possible. Cons include direct and indirect costs; informal alumni structures are seen as equally effective. (MSE)

Fund-raising auctions and related dinners produced by a private school, a community college, and a state university alumni association are described. Profiles include details of location, budget, proceeds, and reasons the events were successful. (MSE)

A guide to planning college and university anniversary celebrations that attract the attention of both friends and strangers recommends creating substantive programs related to current public interest; faculty involvement; broad-based and varied programing; media participation; attention to both past and future; and adequate budget. (MSE)

Advice to help a college or school development officer work effectively with a new chief executive officer includes participating in the search, making early contacts with the new administrator, coordinating working styles, keeping staff informed and comfortable with new processes, and launching new fund-raising initiatives as soon as possible.…

Pepperdine University's (California) 1980s fund-raising campaign was designed to raise overall institutional visibility, establish an image of quality education, improve institutional image in the business community, increase fund-raising momentum, and raise significant money for immediate capital needs. Theme, staffing, and advertising were key…

Catholic education is a ministry of the Catholic Church and a primary means of evangelization. The ministry of development, an integral part of Catholic education, is basically one of developing people and helping them to grow. The chief administrator is pivotal in this ministry and is responsible for quality Catholic education, sound business…

Colleges and universities are achieving modest results in using the World Wide Web for fund raising. Suggestions for developing/updating Web sites include: providing basic information such as pledge forms and development office contacts; tailoring the site to campus and potential donor interests; using the site to support other efforts; providing…

A survey of alumnae of three Catholic liberal arts colleges investigated applicability of a theoretical model proposing that selected demographic, background, and opinion variables would affect alumnae giving. Results indicate that most of the demographic/background variables studied had only weak to moderate correlation with giving patterns.…