Doctoral thesis evaluates donation attraction trends in state-funded universities in Latvia

The aim of the doctoral thesis is to evaluate international practices and donation attraction trends in Latvia’s state-established universities, and to identify a scenario demonstrating positive dynamics that could enhance donation fundraising efforts in these institutions.

According to Dr. Kundziņa:"Philanthropy has a long history – its development dates back to ancient Rome around 70–80 BCE. Since then, the term 'patron' has become widely used to refer to individuals who voluntarily provide financial support for science, arts, and education. In Latvia, philanthropic traditions began in the mid-19th century, during the period of Russian imperial rule. The Young Latvian movement and the establishment of the Riga Latvian Society in 1868 significantly influenced the emergence of philanthropic practices."

She continues:"In the 21st century, universities have unprecedented access to national and European grant funding. However, to remain globally and nationally competitive, they must also attract additional financial support from private donors and corporations. Expanding the involvement of the private sector in the development of universities is essential—and this is precisely the task of philanthropy: to foster an increase in the number and volume of donations from individuals and businesses. To achieve this, it is crucial to understand the identity and motivation of both existing and potential donors. Research in this area provides strategically important insights for improving fundraising practices and strengthening the foundations of a donation culture. University fundraising professionals must possess both the knowledge and skills necessary to build and sustain long-term relationships with donors. Alumni, in particular, represent a highly valuable target group in university fundraising, making it important to foster a sense of belonging during their studies and maintain strong connections with them after graduation."

To achieve the objectives set in the thesis, several research tasks were completed, including:

• Exploration of the historical and theoretical aspects of university philanthropy organizations;

• Analysis of donation attraction trends in Latvia and internationally, with a particular focus on the period from 2011 to 2022;

• Examination of legal regulations affecting the operations of philanthropy organizations with public benefit status in state-funded universities;

• Evaluation of relevant donation attraction theories;

• Development of potential scenarios and strategic recommendations for improving donation attraction in state-established universities in Latvia.

Scientific supervisor of the doctoral thesis: Professor Dr.habil.oec. Baiba Rivža, Faculty of Economics and Social Development, LBTU (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8719-3102).

In accordance with the agreement with the author, the doctoral thesis will be available exclusively within the LBTU network following the defense. The access link to the thesis will be updated accordingly.