Community college presidents and chief development officers have divergent views on whether their institution's fundraising goals are realistic, according to the results of a national survey to be released next month by CASE.

While 71 percent of presidents say their community college's fundraising goals are realistic, just 53 percent of chief development officers agree. This is among several gaps in perceptions that will be highlighted when the survey's full results are unveiled at the inaugural Conference for Community College Advancement in October. Surveyed participants also hold differing opinions about whether the president understands the fundraising process or is comfortable asking for gifts.

Rae Goldsmith, CASE vice president of advancement resources, says the survey results will help foster honest dialogue between presidents and chief development officers about their respective roles, goals for the institution and how they might better collaborate to achieve them.

CASE will also present the results of another survey at the Conference for Community College Advancement—a national benchmarking survey of community college alumni programs that covers budget, staffing, boards, dues, alumni giving, communications and engagement and other topics.

"The data in the alumni programs survey will help community colleges learn how other institutions are updating records, engaging and communicating with alumni, and structuring and funding their programs," Goldsmith says. She adds that those attending the CEO Series—a track at the October conference designed expressly for presidents and chancellors—will also learn about a wealth of benchmarking data relating to advancement and community colleges.

"We're hearing the demand and need for benchmarking and other data to inform decision making at community colleges," Goldsmith says.

She notes that CASE is further integrating community colleges into its broader research efforts. She encourages community colleges to participate, for example, in projects like the CASE Compensation Survey and the CASE Survey of Educational Fundraising Campaigns.

"The more participants, the reliable and relevant the data will be for community colleges," she says.

For more information about CASE's community college resources, contact Paul Heaton, director of the center for community college advancement, at heaton@case.org or +1 202 478-5570.

This article is from the September 2012 issue of the Community College Advancement News.