Factors such as a declining tax revenues and an underperforming economy have been justifying the need for additional external private funding to meet the increasing needs of a growing California higher education system and ethnically diverse student body. The purpose of this study was to examine ways in which California private higher education institutions, the University of California (UC), and California State University (CSU) have become successful with their fundraising efforts. The goal of this study was to identify specific themes and patterns that contributed to the understanding of fundraising and highlight insights from university presidents and chancellors. The research design consisted of concurrent mixed methods. For the quantitative research upper level advancement administrators and development personnel responded to an online survey and for the qualitative research 11 university presidents and chancellors were interviewed from the UC, CSU and California private universities. Interviews were recorded and immediately transcribed. A content analysis was conducted to find common themes. This study suggests that some differences in higher education fundraising practices do exist; that there is a relationship between development officer qualifications and donation revenues, and factors exist that can increase or decrease the involvement of the university president or chancellor in the fundraising process. As UC, CSU, and California private university fundraising professionals continually seek to develop effective ways to provide accessible and affordable educational opportunities, the efficient investment in proven fundraising methods and professionals will assume greater importance. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]