Pam Russell
director of communications
CASE
+1-202-478-5680
russell@case.org

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2011

CASE Names Winners of 2011 Research Awards in Educational Advancement

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has named the winners of its 2011 Research Awards in Educational Advancement.

The annual awards recognize published books or articles and doctoral dissertations or master's theses in each of three categories: alumni relations, communications and marketing, and fundraising.
This year's winning entries feature research on:

• Characteristics that influence alumni association membership at public universities
• How and why women give, how to better engage women philanthropists and how to build a gender-sensitive fundraising program
• The emergence of the "brand community" concept in higher education and how marketing programs can help foster these communities
• Student philanthropy initiatives at nine institutions and strategies implemented to build a culture of giving

The honors are the H.S. Warwick Research Awards in Alumni Relations for Educational Advancement; the Alice L. Beeman Research Awards in Communications and Marketing for Educational Advancement; and the John Grenzebach Awards for Outstanding Research in Philanthropy for Educational Advancement.

The 2011 CASE Research Awards in Educational Advancement winners are:

Andrew P. Christopherson, director of development, Emory University. Christopherson is the recipient of the H.S. Warwick Research Award in Alumni Relations for Educational Advancement, Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation, for "Alumni Association Membership Levels at Public Universities: A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Alumni Association and Institutional Characteristics," completed at the University of South Carolina. Christopherson's research examines the characteristics that associate with membership levels at dues-based alumni associations. The study highlights the importance of communication with alumni on a regular basis as well as other communication-related efforts. Christopherson notes that the study's results will prove useful to alumni relations leaders who want to develop strategies to grow the number of dues-paying members or who are considering starting a dues-based membership program.

Sondra Shaw-Hardy, philanthropist, and author; Martha A. Taylor, vice president-University of Wisconsin Foundation; and Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, communications director at the Association of the Baltimore Area Grantmakers. Shaw-Hardy, Taylor and Beaudoin-Schwartz received the John Grenzebach Award for Outstanding Research in Philanthropy, Published Scholarship, for the Women and Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World, published by Jossey-Bass. Based on extensive interviews and original research, Women and Philanthropy examines the continuing growth in women's philanthropy and presents insights into how and why women give, what it takes to develop a gender-sensitive fundraising program and working with women of wealth. The authors also present new ways to better engage women in giving, offer insights into developing women leaders in nonprofits and share advice for women seeking to develop as philanthropy leaders.

James H. McAlexander, dean's professor of marketing, Oregon State University, and Harold F. Koenig, associate professor-marketing, Oregon State University. McAlexander and Koenig received the Alice L. Beeman Research Awards in Communications and Marketing for Educational Advancement for "Contextual Influences: Building Brand Community in Large and Small Colleges," published by the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education. In this article, McAlexander and Koenig explore the attachment of alumni to their alma maters based on institutional branding or reputation. Their research finds that "important differences" exist between large and small institutions. For example, graduates of smaller colleges feel more integrated within their alumni community but are less likely to recommend their institution to family and friends and to buy branded merchandise than those from larger institutions. The authors note that understanding these differences is key to developing marketing programs and initiatives that foster supportive alumni communities.

Lori A. Hurvitz, assistant dean, The College, The University of Chicago. Hurvitz is the recipient of the John Grenzebach Award for Outstanding Research in Philanthropy, Doctoral Dissertation, for "Building a Culture of Student Philanthropy: A Study of the Ivy-Plus Institutions' Philanthropy Education Initiatives," completed at the University of Pennsylvania. Hurvitz examines student philanthropy initiatives at nine colleges and universities, exploring how these top-ranked institutions educate their student bodies about the importance of philanthropic support. A cross-case study analysis indicates that student philanthropy education must be viewed as a long-term fundraising strategy with plans congruent to unique campus cultures. An in-depth case study of one institution reveals early success through collaborative relationships, strategic communications and a student development-oriented approach.

About CASE

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.

CASE was founded in 1974 and maintains headquarters in Washington, D.C., with offices in London (CASE Europe, 1994), Singapore (CASE Asia-Pacific, 2007) and Mexico City (CASE América Latina, 2011).

Today, CASE’s membership includes more than 3,600 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools, and nonprofit organizations in 76 countries around the globe. This makes CASE one of the world’s largest nonprofit educational associations in terms of institutional membership. CASE serves more than 70,000 advancement professionals on the staffs of its member institutions and has more than 17,000 professional members on its roster.

To fulfill their missions and to meet both individual and societal needs, colleges, universities and independent schools rely on—and therefore must foster—the good will, active involvement, informed advocacy and enduring support of alumni, donors, prospective students, parents, government officials, community leaders, corporate executives, foundation officers and other external constituencies.

CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with all of these constituencies by providing relevant research, supporting growth in the profession and fostering 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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