Building a coordinated gift policy framework
Abstract
Fundraising often requires a complex and flexible infrastructure. Compliance and policies must be executed in a uniform manner. Two crucial tools can help to bridge the gap between agility and compliance: a coordinated gift policy framework and effective reporting. This paper provides a framework through which the highest risks in an institution’s gift cycle can be identified, analysed, addressed and then reported. Through Eugene Bardach’s eightfold path for policy analysis, a solution for a given gift issue can be developed and documented. From there, best practices are provided for disseminating and implementing the solution throughout an institution of any size. Effectiveness of a given solution must be measured and made clear to decision makers. This paper then provides a case study that examines the reporting of impact to identify patterns and successes within a complex and large institution. This paper is also included in The Business & Management Collection, which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
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Author's Biography
Oriel Nolan-Smith serves as the Director of Gift and Endowment Policy at the University of California Office of the President, the systemwide headquarters of the University of California. In this role, Oriel develops and implements systemwide policies related to gifts, endowment administration and donor stewardship and oversees annual reporting. Oriel also supports all of the University of California locations, including 10 campuses, with a variety of gift acceptance scenarios and strategies. Before joining the Office of the President, Oriel was the Associate Director of Policy at University of California Berkeley where she wrote, negotiated and accepted gift agreements for major gifts to the campus, built the research gift compliance programme and managed the endowment matching programmes. Oriel holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of California, Berkeley and is also currently in the Master in Public Affairs programme at University of California Berkeley.
Nicola Gruen is the Senior Development Analyst in Institutional Advancement at the University of California Office of the President, where she leads systemwide fundraising data collection and analysis and provides reporting and policy guidance across 10 campuses, the university’s Agriculture and Natural Resources division and affiliated national laboratories. Nicola holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of California, Berkeley, and a postgraduate diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in London.
