Learning from the American Fundraising Model: A European Perspective March 2014 | Page 11

Eötvös Loránd
University
Located in Budapest, the university was established
in 1635 and is today Hungary’s largest university,
with eight faculties and more than 30,000 students. The university supplements its government funding with individual donations through its alumni
network and through corporate research contracts
and European Union grants.

donors get the satisfaction of contributing to
the education of a talented young person.
The connection between donor and beneficiary was something that impressed Hudecz on
the KBFUS study visit. He was struck by U.S.
fundraisers’ ability to cultivate individual donors. “It’s important to develop a relationship
with them – not just to ask for money,” he says.
“They don’t function as a bank.”
The regulatory regime governing U.S. philanthropy also impressed Hudecz, particularly the
tax benefits available to donors. “That was very
illuminating,” he says.
In Hungary, by contrast, the legal framework
does not favor individual donations. For example, financing for tenured professors cannot be
covered by private donations.
In addition, Hudecz says Hungary’s educational

institutions face cultural barriers to fundraising,
including lack of familiarity with giving to specific causes. “There’s a misunderstanding here
that a donation is just about giving away money,” he says. Internally, too, he argues that higher education institutions are not ready for the
new world of shrinking government resources.
“Even within the university administration, priorities are difficult to change,” he says.
While he acknowledges the challenges, Hudecz has plenty of ideas about how to advance
fundraising in Europe. Most important, he says,
is the exchange of knowledge and experience
at forums like the KBFUS study sessions.
He sees potential for hosting such events in Europe so greater numbers of fundraisers could
learn