Higher Education and Philanthropy Potential in the GCC States

In this chapter we aim to discuss the opportunities for FDI and venture philanthropy in higher education for the Middle East and North Africa. The MENA region has gathered interest due to the large population and increasing governmental influence on improving higher education in general in the region, and creating partnerships with organizations to better match higher educational options and employment. The GCC plays a large role in the impetus of foreign institutes wanting to invest in the economically developing MENA region. There are many challenges to overcome, some of which are great enough to discourage FDI; but overlooking the initial challenges, there are a wealth of opportunities awaiting exploration.

Studying Philanthropy and Fundraising in the Field of Higher Education

Colleges and universities are historic institutions in the U.S. that have sprung up since the founding of Harvard College in 1636. Though their evolution and development is quite simple, the involvement of numerous organizations and groups with philanthropy and higher education is quite complex. Utilizing resource dependency theory and institutional theory, this chapter reviews the historical, sociological, and organizational overview of the practices of philanthropy as it relates to American higher education. Two conceptual frameworks are developed and proposed by the author for teacher-scholars and advanced practitioners seeking to conduct formal research on institutional advancement in higher education. The paper argues that the fundraising professionals (e.g., board of trustees, the president, development officers) role on securing major resources and private gifts within the organization and field level is the result of coercion, imitation, and conformity to institutional rule, institutional isomorphism, and normatively based decision making in higher education.

Effective Approaches in Higher Education Development

Effective approaches in higher education development will look at a variety of topics ranging from corporate and foundation relations, to alumni participation, the importance of online giving, campaigns, top advancement trends in higher education, and the ever-critical cultivation of major and mega gifts. The education of a constituency about the importance of private gifts to both public and private institutions cannot be overstated as well given that tuition costs soar yet prospective students, parents, and boards continue to fight for the value proposition. After reading, reviewing, and studying this chapter, faculty, students, and professionals alike will have surveyed knowledge of effective approach in higher education development and will have a greater appreciation for the work that development staff encounter every day. The objective of this book “to explore contemporary and future philanthropy approaches and development theory in international higher education,” will certainly be enhanced exponentially by the thorough and useful information presented.

Tweeting for Donors

Universities and colleges are embracing social media as a tool to spread the message about their institutions. Common uses include recruiting new students, connecting with current students, and staying connected with alumni. Nonprofit organizations in the United States also consider social media an important part of their fundraising toolbox, but use it more for recruiting volunteers, advocacy, and fundraising. Colleges and universities are also seeing the need to use social media for development purposes, whether they are private or state-supported institutions. This chapter explores how universities are using Twitter to promote year-end giving. Findings from this research suggest that while some universities seem to effectively use social media, others are inconsistent and even dormant in their messaging.

Alumni Giving and Social Exchange

Fundraising efforts at institutions of higher education continue to be a top priority, especially as funding from state governments decline. Public institutions have been looking to private institutions, as they are believed to have been leading the way in cultivating alumni donations since their inception. Higher education institutions must understand what determines the greatest alumni giving if the field is to improve their fundraising efforts, and student and alumni engagement is a key indicator of philanthropic gifts. A survey was administered to gather important insight into the giving behavior of alumni of an engineering department at a large research university located in the Midwestern area of the United States. The purpose of this survey is to understand the correlation between alumni giving and engagement while a student and as alumni.

Islamic Philanthropy as a “Discursive Tradition”

By examining philanthropy towards Zaytuna College, the first Muslim liberal arts college in the U.S. and ISNA, and contextualizing it in the discourses of giving among American Muslims, this paper seeks to offer a theoretical framework for contextualizing Islamic philanthropy during ‘crisis'. I argue that philanthropy in this context should be seen as a gradually evolving ‘discursive tradition,' and not an unchanging one. Given the discourse of Islam in America being one framed in the rubric of ‘crisis,' and the attempts by American Muslim organizations to garner philanthropic support using this framework; it is important to understand how certain crisis situations impacted discourses of philanthropy towards this sector. This paper attempts a Foucaldian analysis of how American Muslims negotiate this discursive tension in the realm of giving. I build on the work of various scholars and offer a framework that treats philanthropy towards Islamic schools, cultural and educational institutions as a ‘discursive tradition' to understand how the dynamics of philanthropy are changing in this sector. I propose that a discursive approach could also offer us new insights into how philanthropy is being transformed, under certain institutional constraints and relations of power.

Rebirth of a Program via Community, Industry, and Philanthropic Support

In 2002, Lake Region State College closed their “Agricultural Farm Business Management” program, due to low enrollment and lack of interest. However considering that agriculture is one of the leading economic developers in North Dakota, Lake Region State College (LRSC) leaders and the community felt this might have been a premature closing, and decided to look at other agriculture workforce initiatives, considering ways to revitalize the agriculture workforce and its needs. This was an ambitious goal considering how rural LRSC is, with roughly 2000 in student matriculation in a given year. Before looking at reinventing, or “rebirthing” the ag program, challenges and steps needed to be addressed and employed. The following chapter will provide a case study on how LRSC leaders, its community, and the alignment of philanthropic support was able to revitalize or “rebirth” the agriculture program to the new cutting edge of Precision Agriculture.

The Role of Corporate and Foundation Relations Development Officers (CFRs)

Corporate and foundation relations development officers (CFRs) play a vital role in philanthropy and resource development within higher education. Specifically, these leaders focus time building relationships with individuals who represent corporations and foundations that are able contribute to the needs and programs of an academic institution (Clevenger, 2014; Hunt, 2012; Sanzone, 2000; Saul, 2011; Walton & Gasman, 2008). CFRs must be intimately familiar with their own institution, organizational priorities, and key leaders to be able to create and orchestrate touch-points, engagement and volunteer opportunities, and mutually beneficial inter-organizational partnerships. CFRs manage a complex intersection of internal constituents' programs and interests while simultaneously trying to meet aggressive signature philanthropic platforms for companies or foundation programmatic initiatives.

The Role of Philanthropy on the Strategic Planning Process of a Selective Liberal Arts and Science College

This chapter describes how constituencies of a four-year, private liberal arts and science college perceived the effect of philanthropy on the strategic planning process. Due to their reliance upon tuition revenues and private support, liberal arts and science colleges are particularly susceptible to ebbs and flows in the economy. How these institutions plan for the future and the extent to which philanthropy factors into strategic plans provides crucial information about the future of these higher education institutions (Connell, 2006). Gaining a deep understanding of how philanthropy shapes a strategic planning process and the decision-making model that was used during the process provides insight into how philanthropy, strategic planning, and decision-making models intersect to form a new decision-making model, described as feedback and revenue.

Dynamics of Collaboration between U.S. Foundations and African Universities

The question of interest in this chapter is the recent project referred to as the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, and the partner Foundations' goal to contribute to the transformation of a select number of universities in selected African countries. Can public universities in sub-Saharan Africa fully accept the solutions proposed by a private donorship from the West? In exploring the question this chapter draws upon the theoretical frameworks of neo-institutionalism and resource dependency to analyze the related issues. It also reviews, within a neo-institutional perspective, the long-standing debate on U.S. foundations' international activities, and discusses these foundations' perceived influence over Africa's higher education system. Applied to the relationship between U.S. foundations and African universities, this lens seeks to shed new light on the debate about donor funding and its influence on educational reforms.