Straightforward application of simple economic concepts can explain relationships between expenditures and gift revenues, including those related to predisposition and capacity, and has practical applications in interpreting costs. (Author/MSE)

Publications can be helpful in promoting planned giving to colleges. Suggestions address basic brochures, response forms, a planned giving column, advertisements, bequest mailings, a year-end tax letter, newsletters, fund description, and assets inventory. Simple or sophisticated, they can be effective marketing tools. (MSE)

Developmental professions outline the steps and key concepts in the planning and evaluation of fund-raising goals and of the potential to obtain gift support for them. (Author)

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)

Seven simple ways for college fund-raisers to recognize donors successfully are outlined, illustrated with the experiences of colleges, universities, and other organizations. Institutions are urged to thank donors accurately, publicly, privately, frequently, appropriately, innovatively, and sincerely. (MSE)

A taxonomy of developmental planning considerations and corresponding areas in which institutional researchers and developmental professionals can collaborate to assess and improve fund-raising activities is presented. (MSE)

Alumni administration is an activity of a college designed to allow alumni to exercise their rightful role in the governance and support of the institution. It is an asset of tremendous worth to the president and can help meet the various problems of higher education today. (MSE)

An experienced university fund raiser discusses the staff's role in dealing with potential donors, including developing donor awareness, knowledge, interest, involvement, and commitment; maintaining constant contact; using an effective tracking system to manage, coordinate, communicate, and stimulate major fund-raising activity; and encouraging…

An actual case of successful university gift solicitation is chronicled from beginning to end, including identifying the prospect, doing appropriate research, setting a strategy, involving the prospect, making the request, closing the solicitation, and following up. Persistence and good communication skills were keys to success. (MSE)

Steps and strategies to help senior development officers analyze activities, delegate duties, and concentrate on the central concerns of their job are provided. A distinction is made between activity urgency and importance. The techniques of selectively ignoring certain office cues and focusing on differential advantage in selecting activities are…

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.…

Flexible endowments are a form of planned giving agreement letting highly motivated donors give endowment-level funding to colleges and universities before they are able to make an outright gift. The donor commits to giving the institution the amount of money an endowment would have generated each year until the endowment principle is fully…

The job of a college or university planned-giving officer is to seek gifts that the college will receive after the donor's death. It requires substantial interpersonal skills, legal and financial knowledge, and understanding of donor attitudes. While dealing with potential donors requires great tact, the gifts are often substantial. (MSE)

Steps in developing a major college donor weekend program are outlined, including goal setting; tailoring events to reflect the best the institution has to offer; drafting an appropriate guest list; calculating costs; dealing with common problems such as low attendance, damaging media coverage, and guest list errors; and getting feedback. (MSE)

A guide to student fund-raising activities offers 10 rules for successful fund-raising, guidelines for selecting the appropriate kind of event or campaign, and 9 possibilities: selling a popular item; food functions; gaming/gambling events; sporting events; social events; social selling events; talent shows; services; and solicitation. (MSE)