Culture Counts: Building a Mindset for Fundraising Success at Your Community College-Presentation

Presentation

Pdf Summary

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) 2026 presentation, "Culture Counts: Building a Mindset for Fundraising Success at Your Community College," highlights the essential role of a culture of philanthropy in advancing fundraising efforts at community colleges. Defined as fostering shared relationships that value the joy and responsibility of giving and receiving to enhance the institution, such a culture requires internal awareness, understanding of advancement roles, and navigation of complex institutional dynamics.<br /><br />Key barriers to establishing this culture include lack of understanding of advancement functions, siloed departments, insufficient communication, leadership turnover or skepticism, and a “that’s not my job” attitude. These challenges often result in unclear expectations and limited leadership engagement.<br /><br />A case study of a capital campaign demonstrates these challenges and the transformative progress made over a three-year period. Initially, the institution struggled with no fundraising success stories, unclear processes, mismanaged expectations, and personal tensions among leaders. By focusing on improved storytelling, clear communication, defined roles, implemented processes, and increased visibility and respect for the advancement office, the campaign achieved 89% of its $1.8 million goal, with substantial contributions from both department and foundation solicitations.<br /><br />To maintain a culture of philanthropy, institutions must prioritize ongoing education, collaborative leadership, clear expectations, and alignment with the college’s mission and values. According to the CASE 2025 Top Community College Survey, success is attributed to fostering a strong organizational culture centered on students, effective storytelling, and positioning Institutional Advancement as a strategic institutional partner.<br /><br />Contact information for further guidance is provided for the authors Lindsey Bogner, Gretchen Wood, and Meg Natter. The presentation underscores that cultivating philanthropy culture is vital to community college fundraising success.

Keywords

Culture of Philanthropy

Fundraising Success

Community College Advancement

Institutional Advancement

Capital Campaign

Leadership Engagement

Organizational Culture

Storytelling in Fundraising

Collaboration and Communication

CASE 2026 Presentation