Women Leaders in Philanthropy and the Challenges They Face in Higher Education Fundraising

Women make up 60% of the professional fundraisers in the non-profit sector, including higher education (AFP, 2021). Yet, most leadership positions in university advancement and development offices are held by men. As college student populations become more diverse in a myriad of ways, fundraisers must represent and reflect the new alumni demographic. Therefore, it is vital to understand the experiences of women in fundraising and their challenges within the profession. Understanding the career journeys, opportunities, and challenges of women who have achieved leadership positions in fundraising is critical to improving the work, the profession, and, ultimately, the results. These efforts will directly impact the relationship between the institutions and potential donors. This qualitative case study uses feminist theory to critique and improve the work experience for women leading fundraising offices at predominantly white, four-year colleges and universities in the southern United States. This case study evaluates the fundraising situation in its current and natural state through storytelling and sharing lived experiences, a crucial component of qualitative inquiry (Mayan, 2023). Interviewing women leading in the profession and documenting their experiences offers insight into the challenges they face interacting with donors and administrators and the strategies women use to cope and overcome bias, work and life demands, and adversity. Data collected in this study provides important information about how the profession progresses and where change might be targeted to create more effective and representative fundraising teams.<p></p>