G.T. "Buck" Smith is the gold standard for relationship-based fundraising. For all practical purposes he's the inventor of modern major gifts fundraising, which is built around donors' relationships with the institution. Since 1977 he's brought that same skill to the president's office. This profile from the Chronicle of Higher Education is inspiring.
This is the best part:
"The underlying thing for me is relationships—hardly anything important happens that doesn't have to do with relationships," he says quietly one afternoon in his office. He is not talking just about cozying up to a wealthy donor or board chairman. He is talking about building connections to needy students, the lowliest employees, the local community. "It's getting to know people, being interested in them. … Life is built on genuine relationships, where trust and integrity are without question. When that is there, there are no limits."
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