Middle Managers and Major Gifts: Fundraising for Academic Librarians

Abstract Purpose: Share successful strategies for mid-level management academic librarians and archivists for raising major gifts from individual donors Design: Demonstrate growing need for fundraising in university libraries and participating in fundraising activities as an increasing expectation of librarians; provide case studies of successful fundraising by librarian and archivist including their work with donors and collaboration with development professionals; conclude with suggestions for maintaining donor relations Findings: Fundraising is increasingly rapidly as an expected activity of librarians but a slowly growing part of their education. More literature is also needed on the topic. Successful fundraising is dependent on clear definition of fundraising goals, effective communicational and other interpersonal skills, continuing donor follow up and regular collaboration with development staff. Value: Librarians and archivists can apply to their own fundraising needs the experiences narrated in the case studies of two successful major fundraising efforts utilizing a team-based approach to raising major gifts from individual donor