This Carnegie-funded initiative aims to harness the African Research Universities Association (ARUA) network as an entry point to begin building a picture of, and developing a common understanding about, the state of African institutional advancement at leading research universities on the continent. The idea is to strengthen collaboration and partnership among these African partners.

"Philanthropy is expected to grow significantly in the next decade and is emerging as an increasingly important revenue stream for higher education institutions as public finances come under sustained pressure. African institutions should be well placed to benefit from the opportunities arising from the expansion in global philanthropy. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that few African universities have the resources and the institutional knowledge to access the global funding opportunities that are set to increase," says Karen Bruns, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at SU.

"Enabling African institutions to better access the opportunity afforded by the rise in philanthropy will lead to improved funding for higher education in Africa."

According to Randall Adams, international fundraising co-ordinator within DAR, there are very few studies about the state of institutional advancement and fundraising activities in African institutions. Adams says the grant will therefore allow the DAR team to map and better understand such activities at a select number of ARUA institutions.

Says Adams: "The aim is to share our common understanding that could lead to developing capacity and promoting professionalisation of a continentally connected and skilled group of fundraising professionals. The project will also help to establish improved support for collaboration amongst fundraising offices across the ARUA network."

Bruns adds that the Carnegie grant is paving the way to explore, together with ARUA partner universities, the possibilities that exist to tap into the apparent rise in global philanthropy and to showcase the African Ivy League to prospective donors.

"This project is well under way," she adds. "We kicked off in all earnest in March 2022 when SU hosted a webinar to discuss the potential of private philanthropy for higher education in Africa. Twelve out of 16 ARUA universities participated, and the meeting comprised senior university representatives including three vice-chancellors. Another webinar was hosted in June, while we will soon be discussing capacity building in fundraising at a face-to-face meeting in Stellenbosch. 

"I am optimistic about what lies ahead and confident that closer collaboration among African partners will lead to increased investment in higher education on our continent."