Master’s Study Explores Fundraising Complexities for Higher Education in SA

BY: .

The changing Higher Education landscape, which is negatively impacting on funding resources prompted Donor Relationship Manager at the UKZN Foundation, Mr Steve Camp, to embark on a master’s degree research project which has equipped him to deal with the challenge head on. 

Fundraising Complexities for Higher Education in South Africa: A Case Study of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, was the title of Camp’s reserach which identified poor economic growth, inflation, the reduction of state subsidies, the weak rand and the recent #FeesMustFall campaign as some of the factors which exacerbated the decline in funding previously available to institutions of higher learning.

‘Universities are finding it progressively more difficult to retain their academic credibility, research outputs and core infrastructure maintenance in the face of declining funds,’ said Camp. He believes it is important for sustainability for institutions of higher learning to proactively source third stream income from prospective funders, including corporates, trusts, alumni, and other philanthropic donors for sustainability.

Through his study, Camp aimed to gain a better understanding of the funding complexities faced by Higher Education in South Africa, in particular, looking at how UKZN, through its fundraising office, managed its stakeholders in the area of generating a third-stream income.

The study revealed the importance of stakeholder engagement in a highly competitive local and international context. ‘Donors want to be heard, they want regular feedback, they need inspirational causes and like to feel connected to the project they are funding,’ he said.

Camp added that fundraising in Higher Education was challenging and demanding. ‘When you sit down with a potential donor and begin to engage them about the future of UKZN, you have to be very clear about the over-arching strategy of the University and also be able to articulate our priorities, why we have chosen them and why investing would have positive outcomes for them.’

Through his work, Camp has developed a model of best practice for donor management that focuses on building donor stewardship, enhancing the University’s reputation, growing the fundraising investment of the institutional leadership and optimising the fundraising competencies of UKZN’s fund-raisers.

‘I am proud and honoured to have completing my master’s. It also proves that hard work, perseverance and passion are vital in the achievement of set goals,’ he said.

When not engaging with donors, Camp is an avid sportsman who participated in the 2019 Midmar Mile, the Dusi Canoe marathon, the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Thomas Moore School 80 km Big Walk.

He is currently preparing for the three-day Sani2C mountain bike race later this month.

He has also been selected to take part in a parachute competition in the United States in August, which he plans to train hard for!

Words: Hazel Langa 

Photograph: Supplied