College vice presidents' role in fundraising activities in the 2000s and beyond: A case in California

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the collaborative practices that the various vice presidents play in fundraising activities at a selected California State University and how these leaders work together. A secondary purpose was to identify the challenges faced by these leaders in their collaborative efforts regarding fundraising at the university.;The researcher deduced that fundraising efforts on an individual basis by each vice president could be made more effective when each worked collaboratively as a member of a fundraising team. To understand and identify the roles, interrelationships, and key challenges of the vice presidents under investigation, this descriptive research employed a case study approach to collect data utilizing a single case design. A single-site case study was selected because it provided the opportunity for an in-depth analysis of four vice presidents involved in fundraising at one institution. The sources of data for this research were the four vice presidents at Cal Coast, including Academic Affairs, Administration and Finance, Student Affairs, and University Advancement. The primary methods of data collection included formal interviews of the four vice presidents. Secondary sources of evidence were conducted to collect data outlining the interrelationships of the various vice presidents in regard to formal institutional visions and informal general institutional processes dealing with fundraising.;This research supports the literature that indicates collaboration among institutional leaders fosters a productive environment in higher education. The vice presidents in this descriptive study reported perceptions that coincided with the literature, reflecting the need to eliminate silos and create a team effort for fundraising. These collaborative efforts should be modeled from the executive staff, down through the entire university hierarchy. Challenges indicated the perception that the vice presidents at times did not work closely together perhaps owing to a decentralization in fundraising efforts. The four vice presidents at the institution in this study are a small group of people, but have significant influence throughout the university and outside of the institution.;This study is intended primarily for higher education leadership and institutional fundraising.