The Future of Fundraising: Adapting to Changing Philanthropic Realities

by James Langley

Higher ed fundraising can’t keep doubling down on ineffective practices. We can’t keep hoping donors give. Instead, we need to give donors hope. We need to adapt to new philanthropic realities in higher education, both to avoid wasteful, depletive fundraising and to optimize our institutions ability to produce more significant, sustainable fundraising results. This will require rethinking how we organize ourselves at every level, including the board, executive team, and advancement operation. In the largest sense, what we must be most attentive to going forward is what we’ve been inattentive to in the the growing gap between what institutions wanted and hoped for from their donors and what donors wanted and hoped for from schools, colleges and universities. In The Future of Fundraising , James M. Langley describes the changing philanthropic behaviors and expectations of our donors, then details the strategies and tactics that will allow fundraising operations and institutions to detect and catch the prevailing winds in their sails and thereby expedite the advancement of their missions and sustain donor trust. Langley contrasts old, increasingly ineffective approaches with current and emerging best practice, unpacking in practical detail how we must organize ourselves and how we must create new models of collaboration to establish a more adaptive craft. From the author of Fundraising for Presidents and Fundraising for Deans , this new book that will challenge, inspire, and empower you to create the conditions at your college or university for more sustainable philanthropic growth.

Genres: Nonfiction

311 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2020

Reviews

[Katy Kotlarczyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly written for higher education fundraisers. Good ideas that are very difficult to implement, and certainly require an entire institution to change, not just development officers. Can skim some interesting theories into my work, though, and appreciate the focus on impact-oriented fundraising work.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone working with donors. It felt like items were flying off the pages for me. So many ideas to share with my team! A must read for anyone in nonprofit advancement!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The charts throughout reminded me of the old Goofus and Gallant cartoons in Highlights magazine. Some interesting thoughts, but I think the author underestimates the existential crisis we are in.