CASE’s 50th anniversary is also a time to look to the future. Five advancement leaders share thoughts on the challenges ahead, along with what makes them optimistic in this roundtable discussion.

For members seeking information on a variety of advancement topics, the CASE Library’s Advancement Resource Catalog provides a central stop for resources on topics including campaign planning, engaging non-traditional alumni, and the latest research in the world of advancement.

What institutions, teams, and advancement professionals can do to build inclusive campuses.

No longer can the college or university president be simply a learned extension of the academic enterprise itself; today’s president has to be chief fundraiser, spokesperson, alumni cajoler, and enrollment advocate. Today’s president, before everything else, is an advancement officer.
 

If you take your time filling critical leadership roles, you will prepare the organization for what you wish to accomplish in the future rather than being comfortable with the status quo.

High turnover? You may be moving too hastily through the hiring process. Here's the case for hiring slow, especially at the vice president level. An advancement VP's departure offers a chance to completely rethink the position's focus and qualifications. The institution should consider where it wants to be in three to five years—and what skill set the VP must have to accomplish the goals needed to get there. Taking the time to find the right person for the organization will fuel the process of building a diverse workforce and foster consistency in staff supporting the new hire.

But as I delved into how those trends had influenced the college, I realized I had bitten off more than I could chew.

As advancement leaders step into 2019 and prepare to meet campaign goals, deliver projects, motivate their teams, and stay healthy and excited in their roles, Currents asked them to reflect on what they wanted to change or improve on as managers.

Michael Bumbry, director of development at the Kogod School of Business at American University, shares his experiences with diversity in the field of advancement.

As the population of the United States grows more diverse, educational institutions must make efforts to increase the diversity within their advancement offices, according to a newly published CASE whitepaper.