What CASE Stands For
Ethical Framework for Advancement
Advancement, as CASE defines it, is a strategic, integrated method of managing relationships to increase understanding and support among an educational institution's key constituents, including alumni and friends, government policy makers, the media, members of the community and philanthropic entities of all types.
The advancement profession is a grouping of disciplines that together harness their skills and experience to advance the mission of their institutions through their work in alumni relations, communications, marketing, fundraising, and advancement services. This work is done for the benefit of the institution and the communities it serves—and the collective result for all of us is a positive impact upon educational institutions’ ability to transform lives and society.
As CASE defines it, educational philanthropy is the voluntary act of providing private financial support to nonprofit educational institutions. To be categorized as philanthropy in keeping with CASE standards, such financial support must be provided for the sole purpose of benefiting the institution’s mission and its social impact, without the expressed or implied expectation that the donor will receive anything more than recognition as the result of such support.
Advancement professionals, working with their institutional leaders and colleagues, engage in their work from a foundation of ethics, principles of practice, and standards that guide them in service of their institutions. CASE members have long supported a formal Statement of Ethics, first promulgated in 1982, and refined and reissued in 2020. Further, the CASE Principles of Practice for Fundraising Professionals at Educational Institutions make clear that institutional risk related to philanthropy is to be understood and addressed. CASE offers extensive guidance, peer samples of policies for gift review and acceptance, and Global Reporting Standards for the profession.
Philanthropic support is critical for providing educational institutions with vital resources to advance humanity, maintain a civil society, respond to emerging issues, and tackle myriad challenges. Educational philanthropy does not happen in a vacuum. Advancement professionals work tirelessly to form relationships with the supporters and alumni who wish to champion the work of these institutions —institutions they feel passionately about and at which, in many cases, their own lives were transformed.
Taking Positions on Political Matters
As a tax-exempt, membership association serving a broad array of educational institutions around the world, CASE takes positions on public policy issues only when they relate specifically to the field of educational advancement (alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing and related activities at schools, colleges and universities) or when they directly affect CASE's ability to serve its members. As a 501(c)(3) organization, CASE does not take positions on political campaigns or candidates.