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)

The University of Notre Dame (Indiana) fund-raising program uses first-class transportation and hospitality in major donor weekends. Features include careful research, personalized correspondence, transportation provided by trustee-owned private planes, scheduled ground transportation, accommodations, information packets, and a weekend of…

Fund-raising campaign experience at the University of Iowa Foundation suggests that attention to three planning areas (the intended audience, budget, and project requirements) and seven kinds of materials (campaign name and logo, case statement, letterhead, pledge form, return envelope, folder, and carrier envelope) facilitate program…

Guidelines for managing fund-raising programs are presented including: recognize variability of costs, understand salaries as major cost, compare institution only with its peers, manage volunteers well, allocate enough resources for the long-range development of young alumni and planned giving, pursue endowment gifts, etc. (MLW)

Alumni administrators are in a unique position to link alumni to products, services, and opportunities they wouldn't otherwise know about. On most campuses, valuable educational and cultural opportunities exist. Ways an alumni administrator can act as a broker between the institution and its alumni are described. (MLW) PUBTYPE-141

When nontraditional students become alumni, building loyalty takes creativity. For an urban campus and its alumni, it is important to clearly identify-and then offer programs to-specific constituencies within the alumni. The experiences of New York University are described. (MLW)

Parents represent a major but largely neglected source of annual, capital, and deferred gifts. An important dividend of any effective parents program will be the volunteers it turns up. These volunteers can help with fund raising. (MLW)

The editor of Boston University's alumni magazine who orchestrated its redesign and extended its appeal to Boston's general public is interviewed about the strategies used and the response of both the university and the city community. (MSE)

Advice is offered for making college alumni reunions fun and memorable, illustrated with anecdotes from various institutions. Suggestions include exciting opening activities, focusing on the particular habits or characteristics of a class, appealing to a variety of tastes, emphasizing class identity, savoring favorite campus traditions, and…

The experiences of several colleges and universities in expanding, streamlining, and enhancing alumni association regional programs are presented. Issues discussed include event attendance, offering services efficiently, conducting focus groups, designing events and selecting speakers, and communicating with leaders and members. (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…

The Princeton Parents Project, a survey of Princeton parents, is described. The project was designed to strengthen communication with and activities for parents of undergraduates, and to acquire information that would be helpful to other institutions. (MLW)

Alumni continuing education programs can be self-supporting, but they will not thrive unless faculty and administration appreciate their intrinsic value. Garnering ideas and support from the campus community can be invaluable. The alumni program director's goal is to show that continuing education is an extension of the institution's primary…

Large, flashy college fund drives may be falling out of favor with alumni and friends of the institution. Advancement professionals recount their experiences and suggest ways to adapt campaigns to new needs and environments. Inherent problems with large campaigns are enumerated, and the importance of clear communication to audiences on and off…

Planning can help college public relations officials make the most of their time and energy. One approach includes reviewing institutional mission and strategic plan; setting department goals; identifying and targeting audiences; establishing interdepartmental links; and setting out action, crisis, budget, and evaluation plans in writing. (MSE)