Material Interest
CURRENTS Article What are the essential characteristics of a culture of philanthropy? Can an institution claim to have a philanthropic culture if staff giving is low? Does an institution have to demonstrate need? Does athletic success promote generosity among constituents? In a survey, advancement leaders say they struggle to identify and develop the characteristics of a philanthropic campus.

The Common Thread
CURRENTS Article Creating a culture of philanthropy can help an institution recruit a cross-section of constituents to the cause of advancing the institution and improve fundraising success. Here's how.

The Diversity Imperative
CURRENTS Article As the United States as well as college enrollment grow more diverse, advancement shops are challenged to improve outreach to alumni and donors of difference. Many colleges and universities are trying new approaches, such as meaningful engagement of minority communities and business groups in their areas or a rethinking of race-based affinity groups.

An Arresting Event
CURRENTS Article The University of Richmond's police department sponsors an annual fundraiser on campus that benefits the Virginia Special Olympics.

Serving Those Who've Served
CURRENTS Article This article discusses Operation Education, an individualized scholarship program that provides financial, academic, and social support to U.S. military veterans disabled in combat after Sept. 11, 2001. The brainchild of Karen White, a professor and spouse of University of California, Riverside President Tim White, the program exists at three U.S. institutions. The Whites have encouraged other higher education leaders to develop the program at their institutions as well.

Giving by Example
CURRENTS Article A group of Morehouse College alumni who received scholarships from Oprah Winfrey start their own scholarship fund, spurring other alumni affinity groups to do the same.

Degree of Difficulty
CURRENTS Article Alumni tend to be less generous to the institution they attended for their graduate degrees than their undergraduate alma maters. This story provides examples of institutions working to overcome the lack of engagement and affinity among graduate school alumni in order to boost fundraising.

Crunching the Numbers
CURRENTS Article In this story, CASE Senior Director of Research Chris Thompson demonstrates how to analyze the data in the annual Voluntary Support of Education survey in order to compare your institution's alumni fundraising with national averages for peer institutions.

Untangling Diversity
CURRENTS Article Diversity is a complex issue, and the concept has different meanings, depending on your institution and advancement office. But one thing that everyone can agree on is that diversity is important, and reaching communities of color is imperative.

Advance Work: More from Less
CURRENTS Article The Council for Aid to Education's survey, Voluntary Support of Education, showed that in 2005 financial contributions increased but the percentage of alumni making gifts declined.

Great Catches
CURRENTS Article A creative approach to fund-raising appeals involves identifying and targeting unconventional prospect segments. Examples include first-time donors (University of Michigan), constituents who have requested no solicitations (Syracuse University), disillusioned older alumni (Stanford), donors whose gift level has "plateaued" (Wheaton College), alumni with ties to particular extracurricular activities (Mesa Community College, University of North Alabama), residents of certain states (Iowa State University), concertgoers (Baldwin-Wallace College), and grandparents (Reed College). These institutions relied on information they already had in their databases, collected useful new information, and sought new prospects.

Divide and Conquer
CURRENTS Article This article discusses four options for getting the most out of an annual fund. Reunion class giving is a valuable method for soliciting gifts from alumni who are in their prime stage of life for giving. The second option is parent giving. Next comes giving by faculty and staff, who can make a big difference with their involvement in a campaign. To conclude, student giving is an option for making an annual fund campaign a success.