The Evolution of Community College Resource Development

Dr. Mary A. Brumbach, CFRE(Ret.) Chief Strategy Officer, Dallas College

In December of 1992 during the National Conference of the National Council for Resource Development (which eventually became the Council for Resource Development) a duty/task analysis chart was created by eight panelists and two facilitators using a modified DACUM (Develop A CUrricluM) process. The panelists, as expert workers, developed duties and task lists over the course of two sessions and made further refinements both as a group and through individual responses to the draft document. An additional pool of 35 validators drawn from the ranks of advanced development officers reviewed the final charts for accuracy and to determine the degree of importance and frequency for each task. The resulting document, “The Chief Development Officer: A Job Analysis”, was published in 1994.

During the Summer Symposium for NCRD in 2005, the Analysis was revalidated by senior leaders in the field with minor wording changes. The most significant change was the identification of a new duty: Facilitate institutionalization of change.

The role of the resource development officer as a change maker and as a change manager was codified for the first time and included such duties as:

• Identify economic, demographic, cultural, and political trends in the college’s external and internal environment that require response
• Develop and disseminate information in college terms to promote appropriate strategies and systems, using urgency and consequences as a motivational force
• Gain consensus on change directions through deliberations in policy and operational groups and sharing similar developments in like settings
• Seek funding to support needed changes, finding opportunities that pilot new approaches, replace existing systems and ideas with superior ones, and that are consistent with existing values and past experiences

Those roles have become even more necessary in our turbulent times that call for resilience and fresh eyes. The focus shifts from tabulating how much money was raised and instead, focuses on “what the money does” a shift from amounts to outcomes in real terms for the college and the students and communities it serves.

That shift is a mind shift as well, moving from a reliance on past practices to engaging with a Beginner’s Mind that requires setting aside assumptions about how things work and examining the new realities that confront us daily within higher education.

With this preamble, a brief journey through five decades of the evolution of community
college resource development follows:

1970s: Expansion and Access

During the 1970s, community colleges experienced significant growth, focusing primarily on expanding access to higher education. This expansion was facilitated by robust state and federal funding, which enabled the construction of new campuses and programs to serve diverse populations. Resource development efforts during this decade focused on securing public funds for infrastructure and enrollment growth. (American Association of Community Colleges, 2015)

1980s: Diversification and Foundation Building

In the 1980s, public funds started to plateau, prompting colleges to explore alternative resource strategies. Many institutions established their own foundations and launched capital campaigns to attract private donations. Partnerships with local businesses and increased grant writing began to supplement traditional funding sources. (Glass & Jackson, 1998)

1990s: Innovation and External Funding

The 1990s witnessed a surge in grant-seeking activities, as colleges pursued federal, state, and private foundation grants to fund new initiatives. Resource development offices became more professionalized, and there was a greater emphasis on accountability and program outcomes. The decade saw a rise in collaboration with industry and workforce development agencies, aiming to align educational programs with labor market needs. (Glass & Jackson, 1998)

2000s: Accountability and Philanthropy

As competition for resources increased and public funding remained constrained, the 2000s brought a renewed focus on accountability and student results. Community colleges strengthened resource development efforts by securing large gifts from philanthropists and private foundations. There was also a focus on comprehensive campaigns and the use of data to demonstrate program effectiveness. (Phillippe & Sullivan, 2005)

2010s–Present: Innovation, Partnerships, and Student Success

In the last decade and into the present, resource development has been heavily shaped by the need for innovation and student success. Colleges have aggressively sought out federal grants, such as Title III and Title V from the U.S. Department of Education, to fund new academic and support programs. Strategic partnerships with private industry, philanthropic organizations, and community agencies have become essential for sustaining operations and responding to demographic shifts and competitive funding environments. (Levin, 2017)

Future Trends:

• Today, resource development offices actively pursue diversified funding portfolios, balancing public and private contributions to ensure sustainability.
• Collaborative relationships have become central to resource development strategies. Since the late 20th century, community colleges have forged partnerships with industry, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic foundations. These collaborations have enabled colleges to expand program offerings, enhance workforce training, and secure additional funding. The growth of advisory boards and joint ventures has been instrumental in aligning educational outcomes with regional economic priorities
• The integration of technology has transformed resource development, enabling colleges to streamline fundraising, grant management, and donor engagement. Digital platforms facilitate outreach to alumni and community stakeholders, while data analytics support targeted fundraising campaigns. 

References:

• American Association of Community Colleges. (2015). Community College Fact Sheet.
• Glass, J. C., & Jackson, K. L. (1998). A new role for community college leaders: Resource development. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 22(1), 67–78.
• Phillippe, K., & Sullivan, L. G. (2005). National Profile of Community Colleges (4th ed.). American Association of Community Colleges.
• Levin, J. S. (2017). Community College Faculty: At Work in the New Economy.
• Palgrave Macmillan.

Additional Resources:

• American Association of Community Colleges. (2024). Trends in Community College Funding.
• National Center for Education Statistics. (2023). Historical Overview of Community Colleges.
• U.S. Department of Education. (2022). Policy Changes Affecting Community Colleges.
• Smith, J. & Lee, K. (2021). "Partnerships and Resource Development in Community Colleges." Community College Journal.
• Jones, A. (2020). "Technology Integration in Community College Fundraising." Education Technology Review.
• Williams, R. (2019). "Future Trends in Resource Development." Higher Education Policy Analysis.