The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is pleased to share this sixth publication in a series of informational briefings developed as part of The Guardians Initiative: Reclaiming the Public Trust, an effort to educate and engage trustees as advocates on key issues in higher education. Institutional endowments are…

In these financially challenging times, chief executive officers of today's colleges and universities are expected to serve as their institutions' lead fundraisers. Still, many presidents remain uncomfortable in this essential role. With wisdom and insight, Rita Bornstein offers advice on how to identify, cultivate, and successfully solicit gifts…

Expectations of trustees have undergone a dramatic change in the wake of the Enron debacle, the new strictures of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and several new state policies, laws, and executive actions. Additionally, well-publicized examples of inadequate trustee oversight have affected the public's and policymakers' perceptions of higher education.…

This paper examines eight key cases over the past two decades that have affected the way foundations raise funds to help state colleges and universities with which they are affiliated, and thereby risk losing their legal status as independent entities. Sections of the paper review three cases in which foundations were ruled public entities; three…

Recently, colleges and universities have come face to face with the fact that the nonprofit world is engulfed in turmoil and dealing with a decline in public trust. Both the government and the public have soured toward nonprofits, and higher education is not exempt from this crisis of confidence. This article suggests that colleges and…

The 16 essays in this volume address the premise that the success of a college or university related foundation is directly proportional to the strength and quality of its relationship with its host institution. Papers are organized into four sections on: genesis and evolution of institutionally related foundations, their structure and function,…

As part-time volunteer members who have few direct operational duties, board members constantly are bombarded with information on matters ranging from strategic plans to operating budgets to tuition rates to parking permits. In the end, it is they who are accountable for all activities that occur in their institutions and systems. The need for…

This paper reviews public policy concerns that affect college and university foundations. Such foundations, originally designed to provide a margin of excellence for their host institutions, have today evolved into aggressive fund raisers that support day-to-day operations. The document reviews some of the historical context (cuts in state…

Fund-raising is one of the college or university governing board's most basic and important responsibilities: The annual fund is the platform from which all other fund-raising activities flow, and the board plays a key role in planning, implementing, and monitoring comprehensive campaigns, which are major efforts, focused on long-range financial…

This paper summarizes the specialized requirements for management information of boards of trustees of theological seminaries. The well-designed information system is seen to take advantage of member skills, board structure, agenda setting, and both formal and informal information flows. Inadequacies of poorly-designed systems include: (1)…