Volume 8 Issue 8


Research and News of Note

Survey Indicates Wealthy Donors May Give More to Offset Higher Taxes

Nearly 90 percent of financial advisers expect income taxes to increase for most of their clients in the next 12 to 18 months, and one in four predicts clients will increase charitable giving to offset these tax hikes, according to new survey findings.

Education, Family and Friends Are Priority for Canadian Students

A new survey finds that Canadian students are more interested in spending time with family and friends, acquiring more education and leading a healthy lifestyle than leading, innovating or starting their own businesses.

Survey Sees Shift in Giving, Move Toward New, Independent Donor

Today's donors are confident, pro-active and more likely to give online. They also have a growing preference for supporting fewer nonprofits, don't like being over-solicited and want to see measurable results of their giving.

Report: Canada is New Leader in Global Higher Ed

A new report reveals that Canada is now the global leader in higher education completion among young adults followed by Korea, the Russian Federation, Japan and New Zealand. The United States and the United Kingdom are ranked 12th and 17th, respectively.

Evaluate Alumni Events in Multiple Ways, Speakers Say

A key component of event management is evaluation, according to two faculty members speaking at the 2010 CASE Summer Institute in Alumni Relations.

Flagship Institutions Still Financially Strong but in Transition, Report Says

Flagship institutions continue to be among the strongest in the U.S. public university sector, but many are undergoing a period of transition that is affecting their financial results, according to a new report from Standard & Poor's.

Add Personality to Your Web Writing to Increase Readership

Short and to the point are well-known mantras for web writing, but web content should also be personable, clever and even fun to read, according to a communications expert and speaker at the 2010 CASE Summer Institute in Communications and Marketing.

Indian Universities Opening Campuses Abroad

Universities in India are opening campuses abroad even as the Indian government makes plans to bring foreign institutions to India.

Students Rank Fees, Courses as Top Content on University, College Websites

When it comes to the content on college and university websites, 54 percent of college-bound high school students rank academic-related information as the most valuable with 30 percent saying cost-related content is the most valuable.

U.S. Study: Parents, Students Strongly Agree on Importance of College Degree

A national study reveals that families in the United States are digging deeper to invest in a college degree as the economic uncertainty continues.

Facebook: Friend or Foe?

A few years ago, the mere mention of the word "Facebook" could cause anxiety among alumni relations professionals. They worried that alumni reconnecting with long-lost classmates on Facebook wouldn't attend reunions anymore. But the Facebook dust has cleared, and reunions have suffered surprisingly few injuries, if any at all.

CASE, Others Say UK "Graduate" Tax Would Depress Fundraising Efforts

A proposal by the UK government to levy a variable graduate tax would have a "toxic" effect on university fundraising, according to a recent article in Times Higher Education

Inside CASE

CASE Appoints New CASE Asia-Pacific Executive Director

CASE has appointed Chua Beng Hwee, deputy director of alumni relations at the National University of Singapore, to serve as its new executive director of CASE Asia-Pacific, effective Oct. 1.

CASE International Schools Survey Now Open

Do you want to measure the progress of your institution's development activities and see how your programmes compare with those of other international schools? CASE's "Fundraising in International Schools: 2010 Benchmarking Survey" is now open for participation until 3 September 2010.

CASE Establishes Blog, Discussion Groups on Social Media

CASE members looking for a place to learn and talk about social media now have three opportunities to be part of the discussion.

CASE Begins Online Speaker Season with Focus on Building Alumni Relationships

CASE kicks off its 2010-2011 Online Speaker Series next month with two conferences that focus on building stronger alumni relationships using best practices from a variety of sources, including the private sector

CASE Asia-Pacific Prepares for Second Fundraising Institute

CASE Asia-Pacific is gearing up for its annual institute for educational fundraisers, which past participants have called "an intense boot camp for fundraisers" and the most "comprehensive, intensive program" on educational fundraising.

CASE Website Wins ASAE Award for Excellence

CASE has won an award for excellence for its redesigned website from the American Society of Association Executives.

Learn Best Practices, Gain CFRE Points at CASE Europe Conferences

UK fundraising practitioners can learn new skills and become certified in their profession at the same time by attending select CASE Europe conferences, workshops and other training opportunities.

International Schools Summit to Help Trustees, School Heads, Tackle Fundraising

CASE Europe is launching a two-day international schools summit for development directors, heads of schools and trustees who want to embed fundraising into their schools' strategy.

CASE ASAP Names Top Student Leaders, Advisers and Student Advancement Programs

CASE ASAP recently recognized the winners of its 2010 Network Awards during a ceremony at the 37th Annual CASE ASAP Network Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

CASE Conference to Highlight Strategic Imperative of Women's Philanthropy

CASE will present a conference this fall on how to fully engage women in their fundraising strategies.

CASE Europe to Launch Annual Alumni Relations Survey This Month

The International CASE Alumni Relations Survey will launch on 23 August and close on 30 September 2010. Contact research@case.org to participate.

CASE White Paper Reports on Findings of Communications Benchmarking Survey

When the University of Florida wanted to identify best practices in communications strategies, it turned to CASE to help promote a benchmarking survey among CASE member institutions. The high-level findings of that survey now appear in a new CASE white paper, "Benchmarking Campus Communications and Marketing Programs: A Look at Policies, Structures, Tools and Audiences."

U.S. Federal Relations News

Estate Tax Future Remains Uncertain

Still struggling to find consensus on an appropriate exemption level and rate, lawmakers will not consider an estate tax extension until later this fall.

CASE District News

District I

District I announces that it will launch its breakfast series with expanded regional programming and a new workshop model.

The fall line-up kicks off at host school Lasalle with a panel discussion on the status of the advancement field two years into the economic slow-down.

District I is also bringing its breakfast series to other locations outside of Boston, including Connecticut, Worcester, Vermont, Quebec, Amherst and Portsmouth. If your region is not listed and you want to host a session, contact District I.

Finally, the district is hoping to offer an expanded workshop program based on feedback comments for topics. This new, expanded format will allow participants to drill a little deeper into the subject matter—and still get back to their desks by the end of the day!

Watch for details on each of the upcoming programs in your inboxes and on the district website.

District III

District III is partnering with District IV to bring members of both districts opportunities for networking and learning with CASE FUSION 2011.

Here are some details about the upcoming conference:

• Early-bird registration is being extended until Nov. 15, 2010. That's $349 per person and $299 when groups of three from the same institution register at one time.
• CASE FUSION 2011 will provide attendees with the opportunity to
  participate in a pre-conference community service project.
• The Chief Executive Leadership Award presented at CASE FUSION will go to one of CASE District III's own: Jack Hawkins, chancellor of Troy University.

And it's all happening in New Orleans, La., home of world-famous food, music and culture! Check the CASE FUSION website or the District III webpage for continual updates and the complete conference program, which will be posted soon. And stay connected to all things CASE FUSION via Facebook and Twitter.

In other news, District III is continuing its one-day workshop series. It begins a third year of programming with "Accountability 101." John Taylor, associate vice chancellor of advancement services at North Carolina State, is the featured speaker at the workshop in Raleigh, N.C. Visit the website for more information and registration details.

District IV

CASE District IV recently submitted revisions to its by-laws and a reorganization of its board to the CASE Board of Trustees, who unanimously approved the changes.

The changes include new positions, duties that were combined and redefined, and election by the general membership of more board members so that CASE District IV serves everyone more inclusively. The reorganization prompted the by-law changes which, in turn, will be incorporated in the district's operations manual. DIV Board Chair Liz Landry thanked those who were involved in the year-long effort, including former DIV Chair Neal Weaver, board members and CASE staff members Brett Chambers and Aija Moeller.

In other news, District IV recently held its South Padre Island mini-conference. A smaller crowd reflected the effects of state budget cuts but prompted more opportunities at the sessions for sharing and feedback. Three general sessions focused on the challenge of handling a border fence on the property of the University of Texas at Brownsville, ethical challenges and scenarios in institutional advancement and a look at the 2011 legislative session and possible impact on Texas institutions.

District VI

District VI reports that its 2011 CASE VI conference in Kansas City, Mo., will have new features, including free pre-conference sessions, horizon issue workshops, roundtable discussions led by industry leaders, in-depth educational programs and numerous other networking possibilities.

Early registration has already begun. To register, go to the district's website.

In other news, District VI was a major sponsor at the national CASE ASAP convention this month in Kansas City. The district also provided programming and hosted the adviser reception and a luncheon at the conference.

 

Comments and Questions

Please share your questions and comments with Pam Russell via e-mail at russell@case.org or by telephone at +1-202-478-5680.