Retaining educational fundraisers: Reducing turnover by investing in human capital management

Abstract

This article outlines an approach to reducing gift officer turnover during comprehensive campaigns by investing in the human capital management (HCM) program. While many universities have begun to create HCM programs, I suggest creating a position specifically focused on the retention of gift offices to ensure that universities and non-profits can be successful in reaching ambitious campaign goals. Campaigns are an intrinsic part of university advancement but the average tenure for a gift officer nationally is 18-24 months. This is a critical problem for universities during comprehensive campaigns because the fundraising team cannot afford to be training new staff during such ambitious campaigns. Solving turnover in the gift officer ranks requires a comprehensive program to recruit, retain and mentor gift officers so that they understand the mission of the organization and the department, understand their role in the team's success and have the tools and support necessary to achieve their professional goals. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.