Career Option: Higher Education Fundraiser by John Burkhardt

One of the fastest growing and most satisfying career opportunities in the philanthropic sector can be found at your nearest college campus.  While fundraising was once an activity limited to the nation’s private institutions, it is quickly expanding into new arenas.  Most public four year institutions and many community colleges have now gotten into the game, and the overall sophistication of the profession is growing. 

“Higher education fundraising is one of the country’s hottest job markets---and colleges are paying for it” ---The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 11, 2008

At the University of Michigan, the development effort has been well-established with the University having already successfully completed four fundraising campaigns and now completing a very successful fifth.  Its operation is one of the largest in the country.  The development offices, together with the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE) - a national leader in higher education administration for over 50 years – will offer a new Master’s degree in Higher Education with a special concentration in institutional advancement and development. The program combines a first rate curriculum with internships in an environment where philanthropy is at the cutting edge.  The emphasis of the degree will be for those individuals interested in pursuing development careers at higher education institutions, but individuals interested in philanthropy and advancement in other higher education focused organizations will also find the Master’s degree a valuable experience.

There are many reasons to consider this a terrific career choice:

Great environments

College towns consistently rate as the most attractive places to work and live.  They offer dynamic, diverse and fun people and things to do.  They are generally immune from economic downturns. They often have great health, culture and recreation infrastructure, and for many of us they conjure up great memories of intercollegiate sports and college life. 

Intellectual challenge

Development officers within college and university settings are called upon to understand and represent a wide range of ideas to potential donors.  They raise funds and resources on behalf of faculty who are passionate about their work and brimming with bright ideas.  Development staff in higher education promote big “new” concepts while building upon the history, traditions, and mission of the institution. 

Good salaries and great opportunities to lead

Higher education fundraisers do well personally, while doing a great deal of good for others.  Salaries are better than or competitive with those in the nonprofit sector and can reach the top of the range for the philanthropic sector overall.

Employee benefits in most college settings are usually excellent. Most importantly, there are multiple paths to leadership within most colleges.  Often, development officers work alongside deans or even sit on presidential cabinets as executive officers.

“Average salaries for higher education fund raisers topped $68,000 in 2005, as reported by the Council for Advancement and Support for Education in 2008”

As the faculty member advisor for the U-M degree program, I see the program as a great way to prepare for work in this growing professional specialty. To be successful in this emerging new field, leaders will have to understand the dynamics of colleges and universities as organizations and to recognize the full range of the ways in which higher education fits within society, the opportunities for spectacular success are available to the individual who understands how and why colleges are particularly special places for attracting public and private support.

For more information about the new program at Michigan, contact cshpe.info@umich.edu or visit the CSHPE web site at http://www.soe.umich.edu/highereducation/development.

Comments

[Tory]

I agree with everything that you have said but their is one problem and it is almost the same problem I see in many other nonprofits. The problem is that there are two types of positions they offer, support staff and direct fundraiser with nothing in the middle to bridge the two. The lack of a bridge to advancement makes it very difficult to jump from a support staff position to a direct fundraiser position. There need to be more mid-level positions just as things like junior development officers who can help raise smaller amounts yet get that one on one direct fundraising experience.

[Archana]

I agree with everything that is said too - having moved recently to a university position from a smaller nonprofit. Although a larger organization brings additional bureaucracy, working in a university offers unparalleled resources, educational and training opportunities, and diversity.