Fundraising for Academic Libraries: A Practical Guide for Librarians

by Karlene Noel Jennings, Joyce Garczynski

Overview

With more universities facing financial difficulty and academic libraries being asked to do more with less, fundraising has been transformed from a luxury to a necessity. Now, more than ever, academic libraries need to know how to effectively obtain and steward donors. Most fundraising books are written from perspectives that are not always relevant to the complex environment that academic libraries must navigate.

Fundraising for Academic Libraries: A Practical Guide for Librarian is written just for academic libraries. The authors demystify fundraising to enable those to work in an academic library to feel confident in their ability to obtain contributions, sponsorships, and grants for their libraries. From major gifts to events to special collections, this book looks at academic library fundraising holistically. Not a one-size-fits-all approach, chapters explore multiple methods that an academic library can use to identify potential donors, ask for gifts, and retain existing contributors. This book also connects readers with extensive fundraising resources so they can readily apply the book’s tips and techniques to their own library environment. Whether they are interested in approaching a local business to provide a prize for a silent auction or asking for an established donor for an estate gift, novice academic library fundraisers will find step-by-step instructions that help them navigate a variety of situations. By providing readers with practical fundraising tools including flow charts, simple proposal and gift templates as well as sample donor correspondence, this book enables academic libraries to be able to start and advance their own development programs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538131305
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/15/2020
Series:	Practical Guides for Librarians
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Karlene Noel Jennings (MSLIS, PhD, CFRE) is Executive Director of Advancement and External Relations at UNC Greensboro University Libraries. A passionate advocate for the life-changing impact of education and libraries, Karlene finds joy in creating strategic philanthropic partnerships between donors and institutions. Karlene holds a PhD from Iowa State University in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and an MS in Library & Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She holds an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration and a M.(Cert.) in Museum Administration from the University of South Carolina and a BA in American History from Washington & Lee University. She is a master trainer for Association of Fund Raising Professionals. She is a member of CASE, AFP, and ALA; she is a member of the ALA Philanthropic Advisory Group. Karlene has co-authored two books about library advancement (ARL SPEC KIT 297: Library Development (2006) and More than a Thank You Note: Academic Library Fundraising for the Dean or Director (2009), and other writings about library development and fundraising in general.



Joyce Garczynski is Assistant University Librarian for Communications & Development Librarian at Towson University‘s Albert S. Cook Library. She obtained a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2009 and has a Master’s in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to becoming a librarian, Joyce was a project coordinator and research assistant at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Joyce has written numerous articles and recently wrote Fundraising: how to raise money for your library using social media (2017, Elsevier: Chandos.) In this role she teaches communication students about the research process, manages library publicity, and oversees library fundraising efforts. Joyce’s scholarship focuses on library social media. Joyce is a member of ALA, ACRL, and she is a member of the ALA Philanthropic Advisory Group.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

Preface

1 (Current state of) Fundraising in the Academy

2 Why Libraries Need to Fundraise and Where to Start

3 Who Are Your Donors and How to Find Them

4 Understanding Annual Giving

5 Demystifying Major Giving

6 Principles of Planned Giving

7 Saving, Spending, and Documenting: Gift Processing and Acceptance

8 Grasping Gifts in Kind

9 But EVERYONE has a Board! Advocacy, Friends Groups, Boards, etc.

10 Engaging Donors with Events

11 Securing Corporate Support

12 Getting to the Bottom of Foundation Support

13 Connecting with Government Grants

14 Showing Impact through Stewardship

Appendices

Glossary of Terms

Bibliography

Permissions

Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Sara B Baron, EdD, MS, MA (Duquesne University)
Description: This book provides a broad overview of elements of academic library fundraising. As a "practical guide," it covers key concepts in the process of strategically securing resources through a variety of methods. Major topics of fundraising are explained along with examples, tips, and sample forms. Each of the 14 chapters is organized with content followed by key points, notes, references, and resources.
Purpose: The purpose of the book is to help library development workers apply "more efficient practices and priorities" in efforts to raise more revenue for their institutions. As a basic introduction for those new to academic library fundraising or a refresher for those with experience, the book meets its goals by covering the highlights of this essential aspect of library work.
Audience: This book is written primarily for those working in library fundraising, including library directors and advancement librarians. For non-librarians working in development offices, it also provides context for academic libraries that is important to understanding the nuance of library fundraising needs. The book offers sound information for beginners and new trends and best practices for those experienced in fundraising. Both authors work in library fundraising and have experience training and writing on this topic.
Features: The book contains 14 chapters, two appendixes, and a glossary, bibliography, and index. Fourteen figures offer useful illustrations and samples of good practices. Three chapters help readers understand the nature of fundraising in higher education and academic libraries, and donor relations in both arenas. An overview of trends in advancement and fundraising is a welcome portion of this section, as it addresses the changing nature of donors and higher education practices. These include varying organizational structures in development offices related to the high turnover among these professionals. Practical tips include making a case for fundraising, finding donors, and prospect management. The basics of three kinds of giving - annual, major, and planned - are defined. While these are standard across the fundraising landscape, the authors are able to provide unique information and examples for libraries. Best practices in accepting and processing gifts, including gifts-in-kind, are a good primer for basic definitions of key components of the gifts process, policies, and regulations that should be followed. Useful guidelines for documentation (including a sample of the essential Deed of Gift) are provided. Specific strategies for donor development and engagement, including utilizing boards, hosting events, and corporate support are covered. While each area is a unique feature of fundraising, there is overlap in the relationship and engagement possibilities among these areas. Useful information in these sections include sample bylaws for boards and Friends groups, planning fundraising events with a comprehensive checklist and assessment, and securing sponsorship as a form of resource support. Information about important regional and national fundraising through grant opportunities, particularly with foundations and government resources, is also presented. There is a wealth of information packed into these few chapters on foundations and grants and they would be excellent as a stand-alone resource guide or as a starting point for understanding external funding sources. Definitions of the process, key people, and proposals provide essential information for anyone doing this work. The conclusion covers one of the most important aspects of fundraising - demonstrating the impact of resources and sound stewardship. Throughout the book, the authors offer excellent examples of documentation of the fundraising process and the conclusion offers tips for saying "thank you."
Assessment: The strength of this book is that it offers a well-rounded overview of the major aspects of fundraising in academic libraries in a concise, easy-to-read format. It is good for beginners and those needing an update on key concepts of philanthropy and stewardship. It offers excellent foundational information, key definitions, best practices, samples, and examples of forms and process. As a "practical guide," it naturally does not go into enormous depth with all of the topics, although it does offer suggestions for additional resources and further research. Strategies for working with campus leaders and development experts to advocate for library participation in major fundraising initiatives, such as capital campaigns, would be a welcome addition. If readers only looked at a few pages, I would suggest beginners to academic library fundraising review chapter 2, "Why Libraries Need to Fundraise and Where to Start," and the excellent glossary, while those with experience are encouraged to review "The Library Fiscal Health Questionnaire" in appendix A.

Doody's Review Service

In their book, Fundraising for Academic Libraries: A Practical Guide, Karlene Jennings and Joyce Garczynski provide a comprehensive and yet clear plan for raising funds for academic libraries. The authors address the fundraising endeavor in its entirety and provide useful advice and pointers that will be helpful to anyone involved in fundraising for libraries. The novice can use this book as a blueprint to the fundraising process. For the experienced fundraiser, it will provide a refresher and a means of keeping themselves on track. Whether raising fund for a small library or a large one this book will be a valuable resource. This is truly a ‘soup to nuts’ guide to raising funds for academic libraries. Everything you need to know to be successful at raising funds for an academic library is addressed in this book. The years of experience of these two Academic Library Fundraisers is evident in the masterful way in which they layout the processes and all the components and possibilities involved.

Sylverna Ford

Whether you are new to academic library fundraising or have had the privilege to work with inspirational and generous donors for many years, this book is for you. Whether you are a dean or a development officer, this book is for you. From beginning to end this comprehensive, practical and readable guide written by experienced academic library fundraisers will help you staff and organize your advancement efforts, assist you in developing strategies and strong relationships with central advancement, inspire you, and define and advise every aspect of successfully seeking private, corporate, and foundation support to move your library forward. I am cleaning off a corner of my desk, because this book will never be more than an arm’s reach away!

Cynthia A. Childrey