Higher education philanthropy: four steps to fundraising success

Reducing development departments is short-sighted, says Steve O'Connor. As a £7m gift to the University of Leicester shows, investing time, thought and people power pays dividends.
There is no quicker conversation stopper at a party than saying you work for a university development office. But those in the know realise there's a lot more to the job than "rattling a tin". The rewards can be spectacular, as today's announcement of a £7m donation to the University of Leicester from a single benefactor testifies.