Peter Wylie is a man of many contradictions: a statistician and a storyteller, an introvert who loves an audience, and a self-described data geek with a passion for his work and the people it helps. Wylie is one of the pioneers of predictive modeling, the statistical analysis that uses data to drive educational institutions and nonprofits toward…

In order to assure college fraternities their share of alumni resources at a time when colleges and universities are mounting aggressive institutional advancement activities also aimed at alumni, a model for Greek alumni relations programs is proposed. Greek associations face significant competition from the institutional advancement offices which…

Fund-raising mailing must be well conceived and executed in order to hold its own against competing charitable organizations as well as commercial firms offering sweepstake prizes. An appeal letter is seen as the most important piece in any direct-mail effort. (MLW)

The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of increasing fund development at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Increasing the endowments at HBCUs means placing more emphasis on cultivating alumni and educating them about the importance of philanthropy. Advancement professionals at these specialized institutions…

Every year more intercollegiate speech and debate programs are eliminated from universities and colleges. Shrinking resources for higher education make it difficult to sustain extra or co-curricular activities without endowments and alumni support. Alumni support begins by cultivating a respect in undergraduates for speech and debate as a…

New college fundraisers are encouraged to be optimistic, act confident, ask for a specific amount, and expect a positive answer when requesting a donation. Anecdotal evidence illustrates how effective this approach can be, and how the benefits extend beyond achieving a fundraising goal to inspire others about the college. (MSE)

The paper summarizes what is currently known about fund raising in higher education, and proposes priorities for research that will better inform fund raising practitioners. Research on fund raising has been limited for such reasons as lack of interest by the professoriate and the relative recency of the major professional association of fund…

In a panel format, experienced college publications editors and development professionals discussed their responses to three scenarios describing clashes between alumni magazine staff and development officers: writing donor profiles; reporting negative campus news; and publishing campaign materials in the alumni magazine. Excerpts of the…

A recent report on University of California admissions practices over the last five years reveals that it is not uncommon for college admissions offices to admit otherwise unqualified students based on special admissions considerations, such as relationship to alumni or large donors. Experts feel the practice is nationwide. Survey data on relative…

This chapter discusses how alumni research can be used to inform key audiences about the impact of college on alumni, including the preparation of alumni for the workforce, alumni experiences as students, and whether alumni may be inclined to support their alma mater.

Colleges and universities increasingly rely on fund raising activities as a major source of operating revenue, a process which is wrought with legal pitfalls. This document provides an overview of the legal considerations of fund raising for the alumni and development officer, focusing particularly on span of control considerations between alumni…