I had the pleasure of working with community colleges for more than eight years, during which I led public relations, marketing and fundraising efforts and reported to community college presidents. Was the work rewarding? Absolutely! Was it challenging? Yes! Were there bad and ugly aspects of it? No doubt about it!
I recently shared my thoughts with a group of community college leadership doctoral students learning about community college finance and decided it was worth sharing them with you as well:
Based on my experience and those of my clients, the most rewarding aspects of community college fundraising are:
- The donors are generous.
- The community support is inspiring.
- There is a lot of opportunity for growth in community college fundraising.
- Seeing your work change lives – students receiving scholarships, employees pursuing professional development and colleges enhancing enhance their facilities and equipment – is indescribable.
- The support from other community college resource development professionals throughout the country is unconditional.
- The support from the Council for Resource Development, a professional association for community college resource development professionals, is expert, timely and consistent.
The most challenging aspects of community college fundraising are:
- Alumni do not give enough to community colleges and tend to give more to their four-year alma maters.
- Community colleges serve more students than four-year institutions but raise less money.
- Community colleges have a tendency to focus on special event fundraising, which is typically less effective, more labor intensive and more expensive than other fundraising methods.
- The fundraising teams are understaffed.
- Public relations efforts are insufficient but are tied directly to fundraising.
- Presidents who do not like or enjoy fundraising are barriers to success.
- Foundation boards and presidents often have unrealistic fundraising goals.
I have noticed many (mostly positive) trends in community college fundraising, including:
- More community colleges are establishing real estate foundations.
- Community college foundation boards are becoming more selective when recruiting board members.
- Foundation board members are becoming more powerful and involved than college boards.
- Community colleges are hiring more non-traditional and entrepreneurial presidents.
- More community colleges are emphasizing fundraising-related codes of ethics.
Strategies I recommend to learn more about your community college’s fundraising efforts:
- Contribute to your foundation
- Volunteer to serve on the foundation board and/or a committee
- Volunteer to assist with a fundraising project
- Volunteer to accompany the fundraising staff on donor visits
I would love to hear from about your experiences in community college fundraising! Please share your thoughts about the good, bad and ugly.
linniecarter says
[New Blog Post] Community College Fundraising: The Good, Bad and Ugly – http://blog.linniecarter.com/2011/01/24/…