The main reason that fundraising takes so much time, Faust said, is the need to form relationships with potential donors.

“The gift comes out of many, many, many, many interactions,” she said. “Fundraising is very time-consuming in that way.”

Faust said that, above all, she considers the fundraising process to be one centered around establishing connections.

“You don’t just walk up to somebody who you think has a lot of capacity and an interest in Harvard and say, ‘Hello, it’s nice to meet you. Will you give me an enormous gift?’” Faust said. “Instead, you develop a relationship with someone over a long period of time and get to know what their interests are, get them to trust you, get them to believe in what you want for the University and your aspirations for the University.”

And with the campaign soon to emerge from its quiet phase, administrators said that the time they spend fundraising will only increase.

“I’ve been told that it will happen even more,” Faust said. “My time will be increasingly called upon for events, activities, visits [and] focus on the campaign.”

—Staff writer Nikita Kansra can be reached at nkansra01@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @NikitaKansra.

—Staff writer Samuel Y. Weinstock can be reached at sweinstock@college.harvard.edu. Follow him on Twitter @syweinstock.