Nsika Dube, Stewardship Coordinator at UWC Atlantic was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the Spring Institute in Educational Fundraising (SIEF). Following her attendance at SIEF in April, we interviewed Nsika to hear more about her career experience, her role as Stewardship Coordinator and key learnings from the Institute.

Founding Editor Virginia Carter Smith set the foundation for Currents—a magazine chronicling trends in advancement that helps professionals work more effectively—that stands today.

Vidya Kagan, Director of Development Services at Menlo School, reflects on how CASE has supported her through many pivots and transitions during her 20+ year career in advancement. In Vidya’s CASE’s 50th Anniversary Share Your Story submission, she also highlights the value of networking and the importance of giving back.

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

CASE has had eight presidents in 50 years. Each has added to the organization’s legacy in a unique way.

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.

A look back at Currents magazine provides a historical record of the profession’s evolution. Our cover stories through the years show not only advancement’s growth, progress, and sophistication, but the evergreen topics that continue to define this work.

Major gift officers in university advancement voluntarily leave their positions for similar roles at other institutions at an alarmingly high rate—once every 18 months, on average. But workplace compassion can help retain fundraisers, according to research. Here’s how advancement leaders can create positive change to increase team members’ satisfaction and retain talented gift officers. 

22 UK higher education institutions studied alternative approaches to improving student retention and success between 2008 and 2011.