Fundraising

Although our natural instincts as college leaders are to go into hibernation until the pandemic passes, now is the time for us to lean into the work that we do, writes Mark Zupan.

By Mark Zupan

Despite large gifts grabbing headlines, college fundraising faces major challenges amid the pandemic. Advancement officers at a historically Black university, a public land-grant university and a private liberal arts college adjusted their fundraising strategies to cope.

Endowments post lowest returns since 2016, but the slide isn't enough to keep 10-year averages from hitting a target.

Higher ed fundraising wakes up to reality a year after flying high with Bloomberg gift. Payouts from donor-advised funds drove an uptick in one giving category.

Through collaborative efforts on our campuses, we can better engage such graduates and address various institutional challenges, write Anna De Cheke Qualls, Natalie Lundsteen and Tiffanie N. Purvis.

By Anna De Cheke Qualls et al.