Outlay of the Land
CURRENTS Article How has the recession affected public funding of higher education in Europe? Here, the results are mapped out.

Increasing the Harvest
CURRENTS Article In 2007 the University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Association eliminated dues and created "Forever Buffs," a new model of the alumni experience that welcomes all students and alumni into a 270,000-strong family with lifelong benefits. In place of dues is a one-time $70 fee all students pay upon matriculation that guarantees them a lifetime of alumni services and programming. The author describes how the funding switch was made and how "Forever Buffs" has changed the alumni association.

Crecimiento que da frutos
CURRENTS Article En el clima económico actual, las donaciones se hacen cada vez más comunes entre universidades públicas y privadas, aunque varía ampliamente cómo cada institución distribuye de forma diferente la donación. Este artículo examina las políticas de las donaciones en diferentes instituciones y demuestra que es importante tener una buena política de distribución y una comunicación siempre clara con el donante, estas son las claves para la aplicación de una política responsable.

Sunny Sums
CURRENTS Article Friends, parents, and alumni of Sidwell Friends School purchased "solar bonds" that financed the installation of solar panels on the roof of a gym. They receive a modest 3 percent return over 10 years, at which point they will donate the panels to the school.

Seeding Growth
CURRENTS Article In the current economic climate, gift fees are becoming more common among both private and public universities, although institutions vary widely in the way they assess and distribute such fees. This article examines the gift fee policies at various institutions and shows that having a strong case for a gift fee policy and clearly communicating it to donors are the keys to implementing a fiscally responsible policy that doesn't alienate constituents.

School of Rock
CURRENTS Article Folk-rock band Dry Island Buffalo Jump is made up of faculty members from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. The band is donating proceeds from one of their songs, "The Credit Crunch Song," to a hardship fund for students. Needy students can request a draw on the fund to pay for a textbook or other necessary item.

Talking Points: Treasure Hunt
CURRENTS Article Independent schools are struggling to keep tuition affordable and expand financial aid. This column discusses some alternative revenue streams that schools could tap into.

AdvanceWork: Commerce That Cares
CURRENTS Article Philanthropists always are looking for ways to make a difference. A handful of Web sites--including BuyforCharity.com, CareClicks.com, GreaterGood.com, and iGive.com--now enable cause-conscious individuals to support their favorite nonprofits through shopping. Although campuses aren’t yet receiving significant gifts from such services, development officers should take the time to learn about these and other types of nontraditional giving vehicles.

Closing Remarks: Profit and Loss
CURRENTS Article Increasing demands from several sources allow universities to generate profit in more ways than ever. Ironically, the same opportunities can harm the academic enterprise and sully its contributions to the nation's welfare. Making money often comes with a Faustian bargain in which universities have to compromise basic values. Leaders should guard against such decay by setting and maintaining limits.

Beyond Philanthropy
CURRENTS Article Increasingly, advancement offices participate in generating nonphilanthropic revenue for their institutions under the overall banner of "total resource development." TRD manifests itself in different activities at different campuses, but might include multifaceted corporate contracts, bond issues or government funding, and entrepreneurial activity.

Talking Points: The IPO: Myth vs. Reality
CURRENTS Article The author examines myths surrounding initial public offerings, which do not always equal instant stock market wealth available for philanthropic purposes. She discusses the best methods that development officers from a range of institutions have found for tracking and responding to prospective donors’ involvement in IPOs.

Bond Issues
CURRENTS Article Many institutions are turning to the bond market to finance capital projects while preserving endowment funds. Bonds enable campuses to start construction immediately, focus on raising money for other campus priorities, be more responsive to donors, and implement projects that are beyond their current capability. The relationship between bonds and fund raising poses certain legal restrictions, and development officers must take extra care with the language of gift agreements, restricted gifts, and naming opportunities. The article summarizes reactions from foundations and donors and lists criteria for effective use of bond financing.