Pam Russell
Director of Communications
CASE
+1-202-478-5680
russell@case.org

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2008

CASE Receives US$400,000 Carnegie Grant to Build Fundraising, Other Advancement Programs at Six African Universities

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded a $400,000 grant to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education to further establish and develop educational advancement programs at six universities in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania.

CASE will use the two-year grant to bring advanced training in fundraising, alumni relations, communications and marketing to university leadership and advancement professionals at the six universities and to develop programming that is relevant to the specific needs of African universities in these advancement areas.

The partner universities are the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana; Ahmadu Bello University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Jos in Nigeria; the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania; and Makerere University in Uganda. CASE will also continue its efforts to expand training and resources to other institutions in the area. To date, more than 40 African universities have participated in three CASE conferences organized with previous Carnegie support.

Since 2003, CASE has received more than $1.1 million from the Carnegie Corporation, including this latest $400,000 grant, as part of an initiative by the corporation to improve higher education in sub-Saharan Africa.

Joanna Motion, vice president of international operations for CASE, says there is growing interest and activity in fundraising and alumni relations in Africa as universities and colleges face diminished government support, an outdated infrastructure and little or no history in soliciting philanthropic support.

"CASE has been able to help these six universities, as well as many others, broaden their funding sources and support base, which in turn is leading to increased and improved resources for students," Motion says. "With this continuing Carnegie support, CASE will be able to further enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of this emerging community of practice that is working to advance higher education in Africa."

About CASE

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in London, Singapore and Mexico City, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the professional organization for advancement professionals who work in alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing and other areas.

CASE is one of the largest nonprofit education associations in terms of institutional membership. Its membership includes more than 3,400 colleges, universities, independent elementary and secondary schools, and educational associates in 74 countries around the world. It serves nearly 65,000 advancement professionals on the staffs of its member institutions.

CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession and foster public support of education. CASE also offers a variety of advancement products and services, provides standards and an ethical framework for the profession, and works with other organizations to respond to public issues of concern while promoting the importance of education worldwide.

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