This report shares the findings from the 2025 Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) National Alumni Survey, a research study based on survey data from more than 50,000 alumni. In collaboration with 21 institutions, alumni were invited to describe their volunteer activity, what inspires them to give, satisfaction with and sense of current connection to their…

Historically Black college and university (HBCU) leaders lack strategies to enlist and retain donations from alumni to support long-term sustainability. HBCU leaders are concerned with developing and implementing strategies for enlisting and retaining alumni donations. Grounded in resource dependency theory, the purpose of this qualitative case…

Recent alumni participated in this qualitative study to determine factors that influence alumni engagement. Each participant completed a pre-interview survey to determine their student involvement scores, which were grouped into three groups -- high, medium, and low engagement. I created interview questions and a protocol. Following the completion…

This dissertation aims to explore the donor characteristics at a large southern public doctoral granting university. The goal is to better understand alumni donor motives and the changing intrinsic needs of the donor across generations. Economic and philosophical theories including Social Exchange Theory, Warm Glow, and Recognition Theory will be…

The CASE Insights on Philanthropy (United Kingdom and Ireland), formerly the CASE-Ross Support of Education survey, was first carried out in 2002 (for 2001-02 data) and built on previous surveys undertaken within the Ross Group. The survey has been conducted annually since then. The survey for CASE Insights on Philanthropy (United Kingdom and…

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) emerged in the early 19th century as a response to racial segregation and exclusion that characterized American postsecondary education. Of the 105 HBCUs, 47 are closely affiliated with a Black Church whose fundraising capability exceeded that of the HBCU. A decline in federal and state support…

The gap between predicted and actual outcomes--following a university's removal of their controversial Native American nickname--may be rather wide. This study investigates what alumni threaten or promise to do upon a potential school nickname change, and what actual actions result once change does occur. The University of North Dakota's (UND)…

Decreasing financial health damages an organization's reputation and economic viability to survive. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) leaders must strive to improve their financial health to protect their institution's reputation and risk of closure. Grounded in strategic enrollment management theory, the purpose of this…

Using a dataset that includes every private donation made to a large public university from 1938 to 2012 and demographic information on all alumni, we examine the effects of public research funding on individual donations. Our dataset allows us to examine crowding effects on a small time scale and extensive donor characteristics. We estimate…

This study explored the drivers for Long Beach City College alumni, a 2-year California community college (CCC), to engage with and donate to their alma mater. Due to the widespread decline in enrollment post-COVID-19 pandemic, institutions face increasing financial insecurity. They must now explore new funding streams. By modeling the success of…

HBCUs have failed to solicit consistent and substantial financial support from their alumni base. Robust alumni giving is foundational to an effective advancement program. Without substantial endowments and robust alumni giving, HBCUs will struggle with accreditation, student retention, faculty satisfaction, and leadership. Hence, the problem of…

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Insights on Alumni Engagement survey is now in its sixth year. Over the past three years, a core group of respondents has emerged and continues to grow. The survey has respondents from all CASE regions and allows global, regional, and peer-based benchmarking. Respondents can also track…

Purpose: This paper draws on two studies from a wider research program exploring the long-term graduate outcomes of Australia's international development scholarships, the Australia Awards. The paper's focus is on exploring how soft power can be identified through international scholarships and outlines conditions for success in achieving such…

The CASE Insights on Philanthropy (Australia and New Zealand) survey, formerly known as the CASE Support of Education Survey, Australia and New Zealand, was first carried out in 2012. Conducted annually, the survey is now in its twelfth edition and has been offered on an online platform since 2017. It is based on the CASE Insights on Philanthropy…

Alumni's engagement and contributions are mission-critical to a university. Alumni's role can be both financial as well as engagement in promoting and supporting the university's vision, mission, and operations. In the case of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), alumni members also play a significant key role in communicating the…