ABSTRACT
As the ultimate leader of the institution, college and university presidents must be involved, supportive, and understanding of the institution’s fundraising goals (Hodson, 2010). In addition, they must be able to articulate that goal in connection to the institution’s mission and strategic plan. The college president is the living logo of any college or university. Moreover, the only
way for an organization to realize its full potential is if the president is willing to devote a great deal of his or her time-much of it off campus-to developing and sustaining these relations. Research shows the most effective college and university presidents are the champions of their institution (Eldredge, 1999; Whitaker, 2005). They inspire donor confidence (Fischer, 1985; Hodson, 2010). Presidents must seek capable and influential community leaders to be members of the board of trustees. Likewise, a president needs to be highly visible, participating in boards of both nonprofits and for profits. These types of activities lead to more visibility for his or her institution and identify possibilities for mutual action between the college and key constituencies. The success of the fundraising program falls on the president. In this chapter, we lay out the many roles of the president in the fundraising process, drawing on the literature, our own expertise, and the advice of highly successful HBCU presidents and their chief development officers.
