Building the future: The dean's strategic role in university advancement and philanthropy.

The financial landscape of higher education has dramatically shifted in recent years, owing to substantial declines in state and federal funding. As a result, institutional priorities have evolved for administrators and faculty. Deans of nursing programs can no longer depend solely on centralized advancement offices to secure philanthropic support. They must take an active leadership role and partner with advancement professionals in fundraising efforts for their programs. This article provides an overview of advancement and outlines strategies for deans to effectively engage in philanthropic activities.