Most major donors don't need another plaque or formal dinner. Development officers need to be more imaginative and less materialistic in expressing their institution's thanks, personalizing them by tying the gesture in with something distinctive about the institution or the gift. Development office teamwork and care help promote donor…

While Ohio State University's recent success at fund raising is raising the hopes of other public and private institutions, many private colleges are worried by competition with public universities for a finite supply of private money. (MSE)

Offers a historical perspective on the community college foundation, reviews 1987 research findings concerning foundation assets, lists 10 steps to establishing a foundation, and identifies key factors in organizational success. Describes the revitalization of the Citrus College Foundation. (DMM)

Highlights two models of contract education, using Triton College's (IL) programs as examples. Describes Triton's Employee Development Institute, which contracts to provide specific training to local businesses, and Triton's Continuing Education Center for Health Professionals (CECHP), which co-sponsors programs for the continuing education of…

Not many institutions have a written document that states rules and procedures for accepting and handling gifts. Reasons for having a written policy, developing a policy, and what a policy includes are described. (MLW)

A survey of institutions conducting or having completed fund-raising campaigns with goals over $1 million confirmed that campaigns have different purposes and structures, and do not all include the same sources and purposes of support in their reports. Fund-raising professionals should consider the issue of consistency in campaign accounting. (MSE)

Schools enjoying strong parental support have parental-involvement programs in place and actively seek to involve parents. Such schools usually have a staff member, frequently a parent, whose task is to establish, manage, and maintain successful engagements among individuals, groups of parents, and the school. Darien, Connecticut's innovative high…

This article discusses the drawbacks of alumni merchandising, with alumni association directors voicing concerns about overloading alumni with solicitations and detracting from the associations' primary mission. It argues that if alumni associations must resort to merchandising, they should offer only high quality products. (MDM)

College production of a college newsletter for planned giving prospects is compared to production by a vendor in terms of advantages (it projects character, permits control, promotes credibility, provides connection, and produces confidence) and disadvantages (it preempts calling, demands copy, requires competence, adds costs, and brings…

Suggests strategies to assist theater personnel (or any academic personnel) in preparation and follow through of proposals for funding to be presented to department chairs or deans. Uses a five-part formula consisting of planning, proposal, presentation, persistence, and personal credibility. (SR)

Tests three models of the door-in-the-face (DITF) compliance strategy--reciprocal concessions, perceptual contrast, and self-presentation. Finds that concession labeling led to stronger feelings of obligation to donate but did not affect compliance; and facilitated charity when interaction with the solicitor was anticipated but backfired when…

The term life income fund refers to several gift vehicles, each providing donors or their designees with an income during their lifetime, with the remainder used to provide support to a nonprofit or charitable organization. These fund-raising vehicles can be very useful to a college or university, but the institution must evaluate carefully the…

Discusses annual fund-raising programs in academic libraries and identifies factors for success, including identifying the library's constituents, developing a compelling case for support, and determining how to deliver the message most effectively. Provides examples from Canadian and U.S. academic libraries. (Author/LRW)

Examines where school funding comes from, the different levels of funding districts are able to acquire, an some examples of some unique funding mechanisms. The future of school funding is highlighted, including how former students funded future classrooms in their old high school. (GR)

This year, Albuquerque Public Schools plan to generate over $400,000 in cash pledges and exceed $300,000 in in-kind contributions for an ongoing campaign to support its athletic programs. Marketing strategies will involve foundations, scoreboard sponsors, award recognition programs, broadcast rights, special events and promotions, and sports…