Advanced Planning for Growth
The CASE-More report Accelerating Ambitions: a decade of giving to higher education and how it informs the future has demonstrated how annual giving to UK universities has doubled in the decade, to a record £1.5bn in 2022 – even amid increasingly challenging times for higher education, and with advancement staffing increasing only modestly.
Meanwhile, institutions in continental Europe, lagging several years behind their UK counterparts, are grappling with similar challenges due to changing funding models, difficulties in admitting foreign students, and persistent budget cuts. There is a growing awareness of the potential of fundraising and broader advancement efforts. However, while expectations for success have risen, many institutions remain hesitant to invest the necessary time, talent, and resources to meet these new ambitions.
How can we advocate effectively for our advancement offices? How can we foster internal confidence that, especially in financially difficult times, advancement can be seen as a profit centre rather than a cost centre? How can we enhance collaboration across alumni relations, fundraising, marketing, and communications, to support rich and varied supporter engagement journeys?
Vérane Castelnau and Maarten Vervaat will share insights from advancement offices across Europe. They will present a sustainable growth model that aligns investments with increasing impact while avoiding the pitfalls of overextending success.