Advancement Unit Sustainability

This report investigates how administrators at other institutions continue to fund advancement staffing levels built up during a campaign, and how other institutions implement gift fees for their Foundations.

Summary

This report investigates how administrators at other institutions continue to fund advancement staffing levels built up during a campaign, and how other institutions implement gift fees for their Foundations.

Key observations from our research

1. Most profiled institutions fund their advancement units by appropriating funds from the university’s central budget, though some institutions draw on an administrative endowment fee.

2. Fund campaign staff positions through an administrative endowment fee.

3. Implement gift fees between two and six and a half percent to generate additional revenue for advancement units.

4. Minimize potential donor resistance to gift fees through strategic branding of fees and transparent communication with donors.

5. Central funds, rather than gift fees or endowment interest, support elevated campaign spending.

6. Advancement unit staff at profiled institutions organize capital campaigns, oversee fundraising, and manage donations.

7. Profiled institutions permanently maintain campaign staff positions post-campaign and support them through an administrative endowment fee.