Uniting Virtually To Save An Institution
By: David H. King,President & CEO By now you may or may not have heard the saga of Sweet Briar College. The cliff notes are that the college President and Board decided to close the women’s college after 114 years, because they believed it had insurmountable financial problems. The other side of the story isRead More Uniting Virtually To Save An Institution
Young Alumni Giving
A few months ago I attended my five year high school reunion and a few weeks after that I got my first solicitation to the alumni fund call. I was shocked to think back and realize this was the first time my high school was soliciting me for a gift of any kind. And toRead More Young Alumni Giving
Endowment Compliance Audits
Institutions which raise funds for endowments need to be mindful of complying with the donor’s intentions long after the gift was made, and often after the fundraiser who closed the gift is gone from the institution. Although agreeing to a donor’s intentions seems to be a straightforward proposition when dealing with one donor and oneRead More Endowment Compliance Audits
Changing and Challenging Trends in Higher Education — The 4 D’s
The opening panel at the CASE District III conference featured distinguished college and university presidents who talked about the changing and challenging trends in higher education – or, the four D’s. Fortunately these weren’t final grades, but the latest trends in higher education: Demographics, Disruption, Disintermediation, and Dollars. Joe DiPietro, President of the University of Tennessee,Read More Changing and Challenging Trends in Higher Education — The 4 D’s
Utilizing Your Gift Officers To Their Highest Capacity
In conversation with development professionals and from the many development assessments my colleagues and I at Alexander Haas have done, I am constantly reminded that no office has sufficient field officers to secure major, planned and leadership annual gifts. It’s just a fact of life. That only serves to amplify our need to make sureRead More Utilizing Your Gift Officers To Their Highest Capacity
Challenges in Strengthening Development Programs
Recently we were asked for our thoughts on the many challenges in strengthening development programs that are faced by presidents of emerging public universities. This is an especially critical issue for these leaders as they deal with declining state and federal support and restraints on tuition increases. Given this scenario, increasing the role of philanthropyRead More Challenges in Strengthening Development Programs
That’s the Way the Pigskin Bounces: Football Season Fundraising
Many of the organizations we work with are colleges and universities, and many of these play intercollegiate football at some level. Several of our current clients are prominent NCAA FBS schools. In fact, 5 of the AP top 10 are current or former clients of Alexander Haas. So what, you ask. I thought this wasRead More That’s the Way the Pigskin Bounces: Football Season Fundraising
Right-Sizing Your Board
by David Shufflebarger,Senior Partner We are often asked “What is the ideal size for our board?” One response is simply, “Not too large and not too small.” Another is, “It depends.” While there is some merit in both answers, neither is very helpful without delving deeper into the board’s role at an individual college,Read More Right-Sizing Your Board
Finding the Purpose of Leadership Programs
by Nancy E. Peterman, Partner One common element of many recent university campaigns is the establishment of a leadership program. A popular brand as a program or institute, a leadership center has come to represent a collection of experiences that are designed to develop desirable characteristics needed for graduates to make a difference in society.Read More Finding the Purpose of Leadership Programs