An Uneven Playing Field: Fundraising at Regional Public Universities in the Aftermath of the Great Recession

Abstract

At a time when fundraising has become essential to public higher education, there is evidence that regional public universities (RPUs) confront a unique set of fundraising challenges. However, few studies have empirically examined the on-the-ground realities of fundraising at RPUs. The purpose of this study was to better understand the nature of fundraising at RPUs, particularly after the Great Recession, through the experiences of leaders at these institutions. The study draws upon interviews with 29 active presidents and chief fundraising officers at RPUs and a theoretical framework based upon two models of institutional fundraising effectiveness. The findings reveal the growing importance of fundraising at RPUs, as well as acute competition with private and public research universities. Findings also highlight organizational characteristics that explain fundraising challenges at RPUs, notably budget cuts from the recession, turnover in leadership positions, lack of a wealthy donor base, nascent campus cultures of fundraising, institutional age, the nature of academic programs and graduates' careers, and under-developed relationships with donors. These findings have implications for policies related to financial sustainability, institutional inequality, and social mobility, as well as implications for fundraising practices at RPUs.