Concerns about the cost of higher education and student loan debt have resulted in increasing efforts by policymakers and university administrators to find alternative ways to support the financing of higher education for students. The authors present a case study of a student-led philanthropy campaign to generate funding for social work student…

Successful investing for long-term funds requires a strategic plan. This is true despite--indeed, because of--the fact that the future is unknowable. The plan must be specific, embodying in concrete terms the best thinking of the board of trustees about the investment pool, its goals and purposes; but it also needs to be sufficiently flexible to…

Economic pressure has played a role in most clashes between independent alumni associations and their college administrations. Some pros and cons of independence are provided and some events of the past few years are described. (MLW)

Both routine monitoring reports and special studies contribute to effective fund-raising efforts and the provision of services to alumni of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A long-range strategy committee was established to determine market-research needs and approaches and to establish long-term alumni-relations priorities. The alumni…

Offers basic principles for English department fundraising: know why people should give money to the department; identify several colleagues who can help represent the department to potential givers; involve alumni; work on getting grants while pursuing private gifts from donors; create a print representation of the department; and cultivate a…

Through an alumni-led effort called Project Search, Haverford College found 72 percent of its 825 missing graduates. The project has paid off in more than renewed alumni ties, with a 20-fold return in the first 3 years of combined annual and capital fund raising. (MLW)

A corporate relations program at the University of Rochester that uses several follow-up techniques to help keep lines of communication open and encourage corporations to stay in close touch is described. Gift acknowledgments, reports to donors, corporation visits, informational mailings, and campus visits and special events are discussed. (MLW)

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)

A comprehensive study of Stanford University giving capacity of alumni and friends is described. The mission was to identify new donor prospects and to review perceptions of the people already identified. Some 1,200 new volunteers were involved. (MLW)

A program that sent a fund-raising videotape to 1,500 University of Richmond alumni is described. Research had turned up affluent alumni in areas too remote for personal calls or visits by the presidents. The program was a success and proved cost-effective. (MLW)

Dartmouth's class newsletter program has proved to be a simple but effective way to foster loyalty, affection, and support among their alumni. The newsletters also promote continuing education programs, act as informal career and placement networks, and find lost alumni. (MLW)

Six institutions' successful annual fund drives are described. St. Stephen's School keeps its constituents informed of giving participation and fosters a competitive spirit by using agents for each alumni class and parent representatives for each school grade. Ohio University cultivates annual gifts through a gift club for local donors. (MLW)

Ideas that have helped the University of Richmond win corporation support are identified: develop impact statements; research each prospect; schedule corporate days on campus; plan executive information sessions on campus; give return for support; use one gift to increase others; extend pledge period; use team approach; and thank donors. (MLW)

A survey of the best in event ideas, settings, and themes for alumni programs is discussed. Traveling reunions at Greenhill School, a private screening of "Ghostbusters II," morning breakfasts of alumni at Purdue University, are among those described. Capturing the attention of graduating seniors before they leave campus is advocated. (MLW)

The Carnegie Mellon University's Alumni Visitation Program, which coincided with a $200-million capital campaign, is described. Student visitors asked alumni what they thought of Carnegie Mellon and told them about the university; they did not ask the alumni for money. Finding and training the students is discussed. (MLW)