Good onboarding welcomes new colleagues into a team—like a welcome mat for the organization. That philosophy helps the University of California, Davis, U.S., start its newcomers in advancement off on the right foot. In 2021, the development and alumni relations division there launched The Learning DO–Development Officer Boot Camp. It’s a comprehensive, centralized, nine-week academy for fundraisers.

The average tenure for an advancement professional today is just five years. To keep staff on board, our workplaces need to be flexible, empathetic, inclusive, and transparent. Here, two researchers share what they’ve discovered about human-centered talent management and the key steps to retain staff: align talent to mission and values; engage the whole person; and recognize colleagues’ impact.  

Getting noticed amid the chaos of an email inbox is harder than ever for marketers. They’re looking for less-crowded routes to reach their audiences, and many are finding one in an old, familiar place: Direct mail. Currents spoke with five COE-recognized teams about the stories behind their mailers and what lessons they’d share with others looking to create their own successful campaigns.

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.

Keith Paul, Chief Marketing Officer at Northern Essex Community College, shares how his team has boosted its college's brand identity through partnerships and stepping up its game.

When Oakton Community College’s board of trustees voted to remove the word “community” from its name, the Illinois institution’s marketing and advancement teams embarked on a brand relaunch. This case study highlights the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned—particularly relevant today as many community colleges consider name changes, mergers, and institutional identity shifts.

University recruitment videos tend to follow a similar formula—but Leeds Beckett University had other ideas. In 2022, the institution took a different, cinematic approach to capture arts students and alumni performing original pieces in a newly opened arts facility on the U.K. university’s campus.

Dos and don’ts of virtual interviews.

The pandemic and the Great Resignation (on top of years of financial pressures and change) have created new levels of stress and mental health challenges for higher education staffs around the world. Here’s a snapshot of mental health in today’s advancement workplaces—including what institutions, leaders, and individuals can do to address burnout and support well-being.

With the Great Resignation, many professionals find themselves leading as middle managers for the first time. They got there because they excelled in previous roles; however, many have not had the appropriate training to help them reach their potential as team leaders. Several newer managers share how they’ve navigated the transition to leadership, along with their best advice for those new in such roles.