UA Vice Chancellor Publishes Second Fund Raising Book

Photo Submitted

Philanthropy, Fundraising, and the Capital Campaign by G. David Gearhart

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for university advancement and professor of education in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, recently published his second book. In “Philanthropy, Fund Raising, and the Capital Campaign: A Practical Guide,” Gearhart calls on his extensive experience to illustrate the steps to successful college or university campaigning from start to finish. His first book, published in 1995, is titled “The Capital Campaign in Higher Education.”

Gearhart led the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century at the University of Arkansas, which recorded $1.046 billion in gifts and pledges designated toward student and faculty endowments, academic programs, capital improvements and University Libraries when it concluded June 30, 2005.

Under Gearhart’s leadership, the University of Arkansas secured what was at the time the largest gift ever given to a public business school in the United States in 1998: $50 million from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation to what was renamed the Sam M. Walton College of Business. And then on April 11, 2002, the University announced a $300 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the largest gift ever made to a public university. At the end of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, the University of Arkansas joined 10 other public universities that had completed $1 billion campaigns.

His newest book covers such topics as campaign readiness, setting up a strong internal structure, realizing the volunteer advantage, staying on top of the financial details, securing gifts, developing the communications plan and analyzing results. The book includes a CD with more than 40 campaign tools, allowing for quick application from the text to the job.

Gearhart said: “I think it is important to continue one’s scholarship and to stay active in the profession and as cutting edge as possible.  I hope this book will be helpful to development professionals as well as academic and administrative leaders.

Paul Robell, vice president for development and alumni affairs at the University Florida, said: “This is the best work of its kind since Seymour’s 1960s classic, 'Designs for Fund Raising.’ Gearhart offers a thoughtful and complete analysis of how to effectively raise money in a campaign setting, what motivates donors, how to deal with presidents and volunteers, the role of special events and virtually everything else a college or university fund-raiser needs to know in planning and executing a campaign.”

Michael C. Eicher, the vice chancellor for external affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles, said: “This book is filled with gems. I found it to be up to date, balanced, comprehensive and well researched. Dave’s experience and wisdom come through on every page. I will give this book to a number of key staff and keep it at my fingertips as an excellent reference done by a seasoned and thoughtful colleague.”

Gearhart, a native of Fayetteville, Ark., holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., and both a law degree and a doctor of education degree from the University of Arkansas. He began his fund-raising career as the director of development at Westminster and the director of development for the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library. He then returned to his native state to become vice president for development at Hendrix College. After four years at Hendrix, Gearhart was selected to be the director of development at the University of Arkansas. While serving in that capacity, he spearheaded a major campaign, the Campaign for Books, to add more than 100,000 volumes to the University of Arkansas Library.

Gearhart continued advancing, and became vice president for development and university relations at Penn State University in 1985. Three years later, he was promoted to senior vice president and was responsible for the external relations programs for 23 campuses. While at Penn State, Gearhart launched a major capital campaign, which raised more than $352 million.  Total private gifts to Penn State during his 11 years at the university surpassed $950 million.  He was named an Honorary Alumnus of Penn State in 1996.

In 1995, he joined the international consulting firm of Grenzebach, Glier and Associates as senior vice president and managing director. The Chicago-based firm has more than 150 clients in the United States, Canada and Europe. During his time in consulting, Gearhart served a number of clients nationwide including the University of Washington, Rutgers University, the University of Connecticut, the American Farmland Trust, the University of Miami, the University of Alabama, Brigham Young University, the University of Pittsburgh and American University.

After three years as a consultant, Gearhart returned to Arkansas as vice chancellor for university advancement at the University of Arkansas. He is responsible for the development, alumni, constituent relations, special events and university relations programs.

Gearhart and his wife, Jane, have two children.

For more information about the book and for ordering information, visit the National Association of College and University Business Officers’ online bookstore at http://www.nacubo.org/x43.xml.