Ideas for homecoming themes, events, and staffing are provided from a nationwide survey of alumni directors including: theme spirit; choose a team and plan a strategy; think homecoming, but not necessarily football; schedule time out for fun, games, and food; and involve the community. (MLW)

A strategy for seeking grants from major foundations is presented. A five-step process includes: preparation, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. A grant from one of the private foundations in the country brings not only cash but also important national visibility to a campus. (MLW)

The goals of a visitation program at a college or university should be to place prospects and their parents in contact with a variety of faculty and students. Faculty members, talking about their programs, and undergraduates, sharing their own experiences, are the institution's best recruiters. (MLW)

When the product is education, enthusiastic college students make ideal salespeople. Student recruiters use various marketing strategies including helping with recruitment literature; hosting visitors; and telephoning, writing, or visiting interested students. Some sales techniques are described. (MLW)

Fund-raising campaigns among the employees of colleges and universities have been very successful in some cases, and have not only involved both current and retired faculty and staff but have also built institutional unity and led to increased external giving. Examples of institutional campaigns provide insights into the planning of such programs.…

Grant proposals are most likely to succeed when they are based on solid, well-conceived ideas. Long-range planning is the best way to come up with workable ideas that will convince small foundations of a project's merits. Planning helps identify an institution's top priorities and achieve a consensus. (MLW)