IRF Update - November 13, 2012

FY12 IRF Data Book Survey Deadline Extended

The FY12 IRF Data Book Survey deadline has been extended to Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. The IRF Data Book allows institutionally related foundation executives and professionals to compare data related to their foundation's structure, funding, staffing and operations with their peers.

Foundation staff who registered and completed the fiscal year 2011 IRF Data Book survey can access the FY12 survey by logging in at http://benchmarking.case.org. Foundation staff who did not participate in the FY11 IRF Data Book Survey must first register to use the CASE Benchmarking Toolkit. Complete the following two steps to register:

• Select an individual to complete data surveys. Given the financial nature of most surveys, the most appropriate person may be a financial staffer. This person will also be the foundation's designee for accessing data in the data book.

• Email the full contact information for this individual to research@case.org and reference the "IRF Data Book."

The CASE research department will send login information to the registered individual, who will then be able to log in to the CASE Benchmarking Toolkit and complete the FY12 IRF Data Book Survey. As soon as this person submits a completed survey, he or she will be able to access data and benchmark against peers that have also completed the survey.

Read more and prepare for the FY12 IRF Data Book Survey on the CASE website. Contact Heather Harmon at hharmon@case.org or 202-478-5622 or Brian Flahaven at flahaven@case.org or 202-478-5617 with questions.

Clough to Keynote CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations

G. Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and former president of Georgia Institute of Technology, is the keynote speaker at the 21st Annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations, April 17-19, 2013, in Atlanta. Clough will share his insights and thoughts on the state of public higher education and leading one of the world's most complex organizations into a new era.

The CASE IRF conference provides a forum for IRF executives to learn about the critical and emerging issues affecting institutionally related foundations. In-depth presentations by senior professionals set the stage for smaller elective sessions. The conference is designed primarily for executives at foundations affiliated with four-year public institutions and community colleges.

CASE will offer CPE credit for selected sessions, and the conference will again include special programs and sessions for community college foundation staff.

To register, visit the CASE website. Additions to the agenda and speaker updates will be posted in the next few weeks.

Wealthier Donors Favor Restricted Gifts

The wealthier the donor, the less likely he or she is to make unrestricted gifts, according to the results of a recent global survey of individuals with investable assets of US$1 million or more.

The "Next Generation Philanthropy: Changing the World" reveals that almost 70 percent of donors with $1 million to $5 million in investable assets said they would prefer to give unrestricted gifts compared with about 45 percent of donors with $50 million or more who said they would prefer to make unrestricted gifts.

Some of the other notable findings include:

• Forty-four percent of donors said they were willing to wait less than 10 years for a return on their philanthropic investment, 33 percent said they'd wait from 10 to 19 years, 9 percent said they'd wait 20 years and 15 percent said they'd wait "beyond a lifetime."

• Thirty-nine percent of donors said they find that "balancing philanthropic commitments with business endeavors is challenging" while 32 percent said they feel it's "difficult to stay engaged without feeling drained."

• Twenty-three percent of donors don't consult with anyone for advice on where to give, and 21 percent said they consult with fellow philanthropists.

The survey of 264 affluent donors was conducted by Forbes and Credit Suisse.

Call for Sessions for 21st Annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations

In preparation for the 21st Annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations, the IRF conference planning committee invites foundation personnel to submit an elective session proposal. The proposal can be on any topic - a best practice, lessons learned, etc - that is of interest to foundation executives.

Here are a few potential session topics:

-Foundation funding strategies

-Relationship between the foundation and alumni association

-Audit best practices

-Role of foundations in athletic fundraising

-Working with your investment committee

-Managing state registrations

-Recruiting and retaining talent

The Conference Planning Committee will review all proposals reply to submitters. To submit a proposal, complete this form by Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. If you have questions, contact Heyward Smith at hsmith@case.org or 202-478-5666.

Headlines

Average Gift by the Wealthy Has Declined Since 2009
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Oct. 29, 2012
According to a study by Bank of America and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, wealthy households gave 7 percent less to charities in 2011 compared with 2009. The study also found that 80 percent of wealthy households give to educational institutions.
Full Article

College Endowment Returns Fall Steeply
The New York Times, Oct. 25, 2012
A preliminary study by the National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute reveals that college and university endowments experienced a 0.3 percent average decline for fiscal year 2012. The result contrasts with fiscal year 2011 when the average return was 19.2 percent. The preliminary results include data from 463 institutions; the final study is expected to include at least 800.
Full Article

Sticker Prices Go Up at Public 4-Year Colleges, but at a Slower Pace
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct. 24, 2012
For the 2012-13 academic year, the growth of tuition costs is lower than it has been in a decade, according to a report from the College Board. Average tuition and fees continued to rise at both public and private institutions, but at a lower rate. The College Board also found that net price, what students pay after grant aid and tax benefits, also increased this year.
Full Article

University Endowments Face a Hard Landing
The New York Times, Oct. 12, 2012
Endowments at institutions like Harvard have generated exceptional annual returns for decades but are now facing tough times. According to data compiled by the National Association of College and University Business Officers, university endowments across the spectrum (large, medium and small) have recently underperformed compared to a simpler investment mix of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds.
Full Article

Presidential Candidates are Urged to Strengthen Support for Public Colleges
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct. 4, 2012
The State Higher Education Executive Officers wrote a letter to President Barack Obama and rival Mitt Romney urging them to strengthen federal support for public colleges. The organization also urges the next president to continue to make college completion a primary concern and support clear educational standards for all level s of education.
Full Article

How can I receive the CASE IRF Update in my inbox?

Contact Brian Flahaven, director of legislative, foundation and recognition programs, at flahaven@case.org.