Six college advancement professionals respond to a hypothetical case of across-the-board cuts in nonacademic departments by telling how they would make budgeting choices. The strategies used include involving senior advancement managers as a team, cultivating consensus, preserving priority projects, sharing responsibility among departments,…

Institutions are finding that a campus alumni center can bring a substantial return on the investment, in alumni events, visits to campus, and contributions. Institutions around the country are building new buildings, recycling existing buildings, and restoring historical landmarks as focal points for alumni activities. (MSE)

Colleges' innovative efforts to bring alumni to campus for reunions illustrate how effective provocative promotions can be. Ideas include a game theme in brochures (Lewis and Clark College, Oregon), distribution of a 40-minute video (Gilman School, Maryland), class-targeted brochures (American University, District of Columbia), and a four-mailing…

Guidelines are offered for making the most effective use of a college or university alumni board, including (1) analyzing the current membership, (2) identifying strong new members, and (3) working on motivation. A case study at Syracuse (New York) University is offered. Also addressed are increased conflicts with increased board involvement,…

The modest foundation that publisher DeWitt Wallace established for Macalester College (Minnesota) in 1981 suddenly became $200 million in 1990. Previous strategic planning has laid a foundation for decisions regarding use of the assets, which will be used to strengthen the faculty, curriculum, student opportunities, and facilities. (MSE)

Discusses the components of strategic planning in developing a fund-raising campaign for a college or university. Emphasizes the importance of setting priorities, and defines the characteristics of good priorities, such as boldness, being grounded in the institution's mission, and culminating in visible results. Includes a case study of the…

An interview with professor and journalist Jerry Footlick focuses on his recent book, "Truth and Consequences: How Colleges and Universities Respond to Public Crises," which presents case studies of how institutions deal with scandal, lawsuits, or other crises, focusing on media relations and the role of university public affairs staff. (MDM)

Varied approaches taken to bringing vitality to direct mail fundraising campaigns are described for 10 institutions: Northern Arizona University, Georgetown University (District of Columbia); Miami University (Ohio), Kansas University, Pennsylvania State University, St. Ignatius High School (Ohio); Metropolitan State University (Minnesota),…

Robert W. Woodruff's $100 million grant to the medical school at Emory University (Georgia), the largest individual gift in the history of U.S. education, was the culmination of a process in which the entire foundation was turned over to the university in 1978. The endowment is used throughout the institution for improving educational programs,…

Five hypothetical ethical dilemmas involving alumni offices are outlined, and the responses of a number of alumni directors and ethics experts are provided. The scenarios involve administrator travel, valued faculty violating institutional policy on multiple employment, alumni staff members' loyalty to alumni board versus the institution, hiring…

Through $33 million in gifts, Michael W. Louis has helped convert century-old National College of Education (Illinois) into a multicampus, nationwide university pioneering ways to make education available to working adults. The process began with a friendship between a college president with a vision and an industrial heir who appreciated it. (MSE)

The University of Pennsylvania's major gift officers have specific goals for interaction with donor prospects, including proportions of time spent in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Guidelines are based on staff experience, nature of the prospect pool, faculty support, campaign stage, volunteer management, administrative support,…

Describes the way in which Wilfrid Laurier University (Ontario), an institution that had worked hard to improve its programs and reputation, addressed a disappointing ranking in a national news magazine. In cooperation with other educators, administrators, and institutional researchers, the university undertook a successful project to have the…

College alumni associations can use new events management software for effective, innovative event planning. Possible applications are illustrated in the cases of three universities. Information is provided on planning time, budget, hardware and software used, software uses, evidence of event success, and lessons learned. Planning considerations…

Successful techniques for administering alumni associations are described, including a live mascot (University of Redlands, California, bulldog), ethical/social focus reflecting institutional mission (University of Notre Dame, Illinois), humorous gifts for board members resulting in high attendance and participation (University of Idaho), and…