Departing UVa President Will Help Raise Money for Community-College Students

When John T. Casteen III retires in August after 20 years as president of the University of Virginia, his days of college fund raising will not be over. Mr. Casteen, who helped the University of Virginia raise more than $2-billion in its current campaign, has agreed to help raise money for the state's community colleges.

Full text article by Kathryn Masterson is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/17/09.

December 31 Is Big Day for Online Donations

Data from the online fund-raising company Convio confirm what many nonprofit groups have long suspected: Donors make more online gifts on December 31 than any other day of the year.

Full text article by Nicole Wallace is available via the Chronicle of Philanthropy, 12/18/09.

Two Very Different Groups, One Fund-Raising Event

A desire for cross pollination and cost savings drove the decision by two New York charities to combine their year-end young professionals events into a joint fund raiser. This year the Alliance for the Arts invited New York Lawyers for the Public Interest to incorporate its year-end event into the party.

Full text article by Nicole Wallace is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 12/10/09.

John Muir Health Employees Contribute $1.8 Million for Hospital Renovations

John Muir Health Foundation, the charitable fundraising organization for all John Muir Health programs and services, announced today that employees of John Muir Health have contributed more than $1.8 million to the Capital Campaign supporting hospital renovation and expansion projects in Walnut Creek and Concord.

Full text article is available via Earth Times, 12/1/09.

Catholic Relief Services taps Merkle for fundraising support

Marketing firm Merkle has received a three-year contract to support a major fundraising program sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. Called “Operation Rice Bowl,” the fundraiser encourages Catholic families, parishes and schools to prepare simple, meatless recipes during Lent and use the money they saved to help the Baltimore nonprofit fight global hunger.

Full text article by Julekha Dash is available via the Baltimore Business Journal, 11/30/09.

Considering a Job in Fund Raising?

I know what you're thinking after reading that headline: "Search for a new job? I'm just thankful to have any job in this economy." With layoffs at companies in what appears to be nearly every industry, and economic news good one day and bad the next, everyone currently employed should be pleased. But you don't have to delay your job search just because of the uncertain news all around us. For those already in the fund-raising business who are ready to make a change, or those interested in entering the field, now is the moment to be actively searching.

Full text article by Jeffrey A. Schoenherr is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/20/09.

Cracking the fundraising code

Research on fund raising by John List, a University of Chicago economist, is the subject of a report in Crain’s Chicago Business.

Mr. List’s studies on how and in what circumstances people give have been gaining cachet in nonprofit circles as organizations scramble to navigate the recession. Among his findings are that phone solicitations are more effective than direct-mail appeals and that high matching donations do not produce bigger gifts than simple dollar-for-dollar matches.


Full-text article by Christina Le Beau is available via Crain's Chicago Business, 8.24.09.

A Board Member Helps Introduce Fund Raising to a Think Tank's Culture

A chair of the board of the nonprofit United States Institute of Peace explains how he introduced fundraising to the think tank's culture.

Full text post available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 8.7.09.

Fund Raising in Tough Times

Judith M. Jobbitt, of the consulting company Bentz Whaley Flessner, describes the fund-raising approaches that are getting results and offers advice for development offices as they work through the recession.

Listen to the complete interview via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 7.10.09.

U. of Colorado Hopes to Raise Money by Text Message at Football Games

The University of Colorado is looking at ways to solicit donations of $5 or so through text messages at football games or other events.

Full-text article by Brittany Anus is available via DailyCamera, 6.24.09.

The Nature Conservancy Welcomes New Chief Philanthropy Officer

Former Director of Principal and Major Gifts Rebecca Girvin-Argon brings 25 years of fundraising experience to the executive team.

Full-text press release is available via The Nature Conservancy, 6.3.09.

Bush Library Raises $100 million in 100 Days

Following traditional presidential-library practice, the Bush effort has sought large contributions directly from a small group of wealthy benefactors. But it has also taken a page from the playbook of modern political campaigning, establishing a national finance committee with 100 co-chairs in every state.

Full-text article by Michael Weisskopf and Michael Duffy is available via Time, 5.4.09.

State of Fund Raising

Sixty percent of nonprofit groups are expecting gifts to their organizations to either increase or remain about the same in 2009 when compared with 2008, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

That number suggests the recession, while painful, is not going to be a crippling blow to many organizations, said Paulette Maehara, president of the association, in an interview in New Orleans just before the association’s annual meeting opened there.

The fund-raisers group plans to release detailed findings from the survey in May 2008.

Full-text article by Peter Panepento is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 3.29.09.

Rich Friendship Pays Off

A 40-year partnership between colleagues has helped elevate Indiana U. into the elite ranks of fund raising.

Mr. Simic and Mr. Dove have been successful in part because they have become respected leaders among local movers and shakers, says Bruce Flessner, a Minneapolis fund-raising consultant. The two men have hired Mr. Flessner to conduct interviews with wealthy donors to help them set realistic fund-raising goals.

Full-text article by Holly Hall is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 3.26.09.

Raising Money For Nonprofits In Terrible Times

Nonprofits are in trouble just like profit-making businesses. Most are battling not only declining revenue but also rising demand for their services. As a result, their fundraisers are having to come up with novel ways of bringing in cash. Some are working with former donors, now laid off, to see if they can give amounts that won't break their wallets. Others are going after non-traditional groups. Or they're turning to social-networking sites and other modern technology.

Full-text article by Alex Davidson is available via Forbes, 2.12.09.

Fund-Raising Worries? These 2 Consultants Provide a Road Map for Bumpy Times

For fund-raising consultants, the volatile economy has brought one constant: more time on the road.

Even in good times, philanthropy's road warriors spend much of their time traveling to clients' campuses to help plan megacampaigns or improve giving programs. But now, as the stock market stumbles and the country's financial system gets an extreme makeover, demand for their presence has gone up, as college administrators and trustees look for advice on how to stay one step ahead of the shifting landscape.

Bruce Flessner, a principal with the consulting firm Bentz Whaley Flessner, has made presentations once a week at board meetings for the nonprofit organizations he works with. A year ago, he did one a month. "When the economy goes south, you do a lot more presentations to the boards," he says.

Full-text article by Kathryn Masterson is available via the Chronicle of Higher Education, 1.22.09. [Subscription required.]

Fund Raising in a Recession

Commentary by Jeff Schoenherr, director of the regional and international major-gifts program at the Johns Hopkins Institutions, which just completed its "Knowledge for the World Campaign" and raised more than $3.5-billion.

Full-text article by Jeff Schoenherr is available via the Chronicle of Higher Education, 1.9.09.

Fundraisers See Chilly Giving Climate Now and in Future

The fundraising climate is the toughest it’s been since 1998, according to the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy’s most recent Philanthropic Giving Index.

Full-text article is available via the Association of Fundraising Professionals, 1.5.09.

The Nonprofit’s Guide to Surviving a Downturn

Reynold Levy, the president of Lincoln Center, could not have predicted the economic climate into which his new book would land. But “Yours for the Asking: An Indispensable Guide to Fund-Raising and Management” (John Wiley & Sons) now seems eerily prescient — particularly with chapters like “Fund-Raising in Stormy Weather” and “Overcoming Economic Bad News and Psychological Resistance.”

Full-text article by Robin Pogrebin is available via the New York Times, 11.10.08.

Fundraising in Hard Times

Janet Hedrick, senior associate at Bentz Whaley Flessner, discusses her approach to fundraising in challenging economic times.

Full-text blog post is available via the Butterfly Effect, 10.30.08.

Donations Rise, Markets Fall

Stock prices plummeted, and 159,000 jobs were lost, the worst such decline in five years. But at Yale, it was a record month for fundraising. Figures obtained by the News show that the University raked in over $28.25 million in donations last month, more than double the $14 million raised in September last year.

Full-text article by Paul Needham is available via the Yale Daily News, 10.29.08.

Campus Fundraising Just Got A Lot Harder

Bruce Flessner's cell phone has been ringing nearly nonstop. When he answers, it's almost always a college president or someone leading a fundraising campaign.

"They're nervous," said Flessner, whose company consults with colleges and universities on fundraising. "I don't think I've ever had this many calls from presidents and campaign chairs."

Full-text article by Jeff Shelman is available via the Star Tribune, 10.16.08.

Year-End Appeals: Seeking Gifts in Uncertain Times

Many charities are entering the most crucial months of the fund-raising year at the same time that many donors are dealing with the most uncertain economic circumstances of their lifetimes.

What should fund raisers do to encourage donors to support their causes? What approaches turn people off? What kind of results are realistic to expect?

Full-text transcript of Bruce Flessner's conversation with Peter Panepento via the Chronicle of Philanthropy, 10.14.08. [Subscription required.]

Fund Raisers Share Their Secrets for Raising Money in a Tough Climate

As Americans grow increasingly concerned about the worsening economy, and scenes of panicked investors play out on television and in newspapers, college fund raisers say the financial events of the past month haven’t undermined their mission or their resolve to raise private funds for higher education.

Full-text article by Kathryn Masterson is available via the Chronicle of Higher Education, 10.9.08. [Subscription required.]

In Tight Times, Many Nonprofits Feel the Pinch as Contributions Dwindle

The city’s vast and traditionally overstressed nonprofit community is already reeling from the crisis on Wall Street. “We have been in perfect storms before,” said Lorie A. Slutsky, president of the New York Community Trust, which distributed $166 million to 2,500 nonprofits in 2007.

But given the cratering economy, “many charities rely on year-end giving, so they are nervous about the impact of the market turmoil,” she said, adding that the downturn was having an affect not only on private contributors, foundations, corporations and the availability of credit to nonprofits, but also the viability of government grants and contracts in a time of looming tax-revenue gaps.

Full-text article by Glenn Collins is available via the New York Times, 10.6.08.

Financial Crisis Worries Nonprofits

As the tumult surrounding Wall Street’s implosion continues unresolved, Twin Cities philanthropic leaders are hoping for the best – but preparing for delayed gifts and lower investment returns.

Bruce Flessner, a fundraising consultant with Minneapolis-based Bentz, Whaley, Flessner & Associates Inc. had a major philanthropic client decide recently to postpone the launch of a new capital campaign. He declined to name the client.

“The bottom line is that you’ll see a slowing of giving,” he said. “It’s going to take longer for some of the gifts to get started. . . but it’s not going to collapse.”

Full-text article by Kendall Anderson is available via Finance and Commerce, 9.26.08.

New Guide Helps Organizations Understand HIPAA and Fundraising

A new downloadable guide aims to assist healthcare organizations thinking about the ramifications of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in fundraising. The HIPAA Effect: Considerations for Fundraising After the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, created by Changing Our World, Inc. and Convio, examines how HIPAA laws have affected fundraising for nonprofit hospitals, foundations, and health organizations.

Receive a free copy of The HIPAA Effect by visiting Changing Our World's Web site.

Study: Economy Depressing Fundraising Attitudes

Executives at nonprofits are somewhat less optimistic about present and future fundraising climates than they were six months and one year ago, according to the Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI) by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University in Indianapolis.

Full-text article is available via the NonProfit Times, 7.24.08.

Economic Outlook: Not So Cloudy for Fund Raisers

Philanthropy insiders seemed to hold an optimistic outlook for the year ahead, based on current growth and having survived past economic downturns.

Full-text article by Kathryn Masterson is available via the Chronicle of Higher Education, 7.17.08. [Subscription required.]

Arts Groups Feel Economic Woes

Museums, symphony halls, dance companies, and other arts groups are feeling the impact of spiking interest rates on municipal bonds and low returns on investments. Plus many groups fear that the sagging economy will lead to a drop in ticket sales and donations.

Full-text article by Karen Matthews is available via Philly.com, 4.21.08.

At One Major University, Chief Fund Raiser Will Now Oversee Athletics

Fund raising and college sports have become close cousins in recent years, as athletics programs have grown rapidly on the backs of private donors.

But here’s a new one: Bob Krause, vice president for institutional advancement at Kansas State University, was named today as the permanent athletic director at the Big 12 institution.

Full-text article (above) by Brad Wolverton is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4.4.08.

Leaders of Small Colleges Are Increasingly Dissatisfied With Trustees, Report Finds

A new report sheds light on a growing concern for many small colleges: trustees falling down on the job.

With tight budgets and slim endowments, many small and midsize institutions rely heavily on their boards of directors to donate money and assist in fund-raising efforts.

But according to a report by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, college presidents are increasingly dissatisfied with their board members' fund-raising abilities.

The report, "Advancing Small Colleges: A Benchmarking Survey Update," is available for purchase on CASE's Web site.


Full-text article by Brad Wolverton is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4.2.08. [Subscription required.]

Wealth Gap Growing Bigger Among American Colleges

Colleges and universities raised about $30 billion, 6 percent more than the previous year. But nearly one-third of that increase — $518 million — went to just 20 institutions.

Full-text article by Karen W. Arenson is available via The New York Times, 2.20.08.

What Makes Fund Raisers Succeed

A 2006 study of nearly 600 college and university fund raisers who solicit big gifts found that those who raise the most work for institutions that are more systematic in tracking and applying performance measures.

"Everybody is suddenly focused on this issue," says Bruce Flessner, a fund-raising consultant at Bentz Whaley Flessner, in Minneapolis. "People used to say that it takes money to raise money. Now people want to know if they are getting a good return on the investment."

Full-text article by Holly Hall is avaiable via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2.21.08. [Subscription required.]

Michigan hospitals report record fund-raising results

Contributions from Michiganders and companies helped to make 2007 a record-breaking fund-raising year for many hospital systems despite the state's slumping economy.

Full-text article by Patricia Anstett is available via Freep.com/Detroit Free Press, 1.5.08.

Religious Institutions Try New Fund-Raising Approach to Combat Resistance to Tithing

As churches find new ways to encourage their members to donate a percentage of their income, congregations are becoming increasingly resistant to the idea of tithing, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Church leaders say tithing isn't just a theological issue, but a financial one. Americans gave an estimated $97 billion to congregations in 2006, almost a third of the country's $295 billion in charitable donations, according to Giving USA Foundation. However, giving to religion is growing more slowly than other types of giving.

Full-text article by Suzanne Sataline is available via The Wall Street Journal, 11.23.07.

Fundraising at George Washington University

As George Washington University embarks on some of the most expensive building projects in its history, it is increasingly reliant on tuition dollars to fund that expansion - something University President Steven Knapp said he would like to alleviate.

The primary reason for this dependance, administrators said, is a lack of fundraising to support the school's rapid growth. Until 2010, it is estimated that 90 percent of total revenue will come from students - through tuition, housing and other fees, according to the capital budget. This number has grown in the past decade.

Full-text article by Michael Boyd available via gwhatchet.com, 10.1.07.