Share these talks and lectures with your colleagues
Invite colleaguesPractice paper
Facets of advancement services: Avoiding silos in the pursuit of institutional advancement
Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing,
8
(3),
269-281
(2023)
Abstract
Advancement services plays a crucial role in supporting fundraising efforts and establishing cohesiveness within the institutional advancement team and is more than just the ‘back office’ of fundraising. It is the department that touches every other role in fundraising, making it the linchpin of any division of institutional advancement. By establishing clear roles and responsibilities, fostering communication and collaboration, leveraging technology, providing training and support and continuously evaluating and improving processes, advancement services can support the organisation's overall fundraising efforts and help ensure long-term success. This paper highlights how a thoroughly defined advancement services office can support the overall fundraising efforts of institutional advancement by implementing measures that avoid silos and ensure sustained growth and innovation, no matter the size of the organisation.
Keywords: advancement services; institutional advancement; development; data governance; prospecting
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Pamela Mitchell is the Manager of Advancement Services at Alcorn State University. She has a proven track record in optimising fundraising operations, data management and donor stewardship. With almost 18 years of experience in higher education (eight in advancement services), she has developed a deep understanding of best practices in database management, gift processing and reporting. She manages her team in streamlining processes, implementing innovative solutions and driving data integrity efforts to empower fundraising teams with accurate and actionable insights. Pamela actively participates in industry conferences, webinars and networking events to stay abreast of the latest trends and advancements in advancement services. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Mississippi Valley State University.
