DRUCKER, Henry M(atthew) 1942-2002

OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for CA sketch: Born April 29, 1942, in Patterson, NJ; died October 30, 2002, in London, England. Political scientist, fundraiser, educator, and author. Drucker is credited with changing the practice of philanthropy in England, particularly through his groundbreaking work as a fundraiser for Oxford University. He received his undergraduate degree from Allegheny College in 1964 before moving to England and earning his Ph.D. in political philosophy from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1967. He then joined the faculty at the University of Edinburgh as a lecturer, serving as senior lecturer in politics from 1978 to 1986. During this time, he wrote several important books on politics, including The Political Use of Ideology (1974), Breakaway: The Scottish Labour Party (1978), and, with Gordon Brown, The Politics of Nationalism and Devolution (1980). Drucker got his first experience as an administrator in university development working as the director of development at Edinburgh. This made him the most desirable candidate when he was hired by Oxford University as its director of development in 1987. At the time, fundraising for universities was a new concept in England, and Drucker had to start his campaigns from scratch. He did so with outstanding success, raising some £341 million from private and corporate donors between 1988 and 1993. Drucker believed, correctly, that universities could benefit greatly from financial support outside the government, and that corporations and philanthropists would also find advantages and personal satisfaction through their donations. In 1993 he left Oxford to found the consultant company Oxford Philanthropic, for which he was managing director until 1999 and chairman from 1999 to 2002. Other activities included his membership in the Political Studies Association, the Institute of Charity Fund-raising Managers, and the British Museum Development Trust. He was widely consulted by organizations throughout England for his expertise in fundraising.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

periodicals

Financial Times, November 8, 2002, p. 4.

Times (London, England), November 6, 2002, p. 30.