This proliferation of philanthropic organizations has made it more difficult for universities to stake their claims in fundraising, Scott said.

By way of solution, Fineberg said, universities are pitching broad, multidisciplinary priorities to diverse donors to attract their support.

“You’re finding more of the [priorities] about the University fundraising effort relating to topics that do cut across a variety of faculties,” Fineberg said. “That’s a strong development that I think will both strengthen the University and make the fundraising more interesting.”

The Stanford Challenge, for instance, outlined eight initiatives that included broad priorities like “human health” and “engaging in the arts and creativity.”

Universities have given their recent capital campaigns sweeping titles like “The Stanford Challenge” and “Cornell Now” to communicate a central inclusive theme that unites their diverse priorities.

At Harvard, this central campaign theme, which has yet to be announced, may look to do something similar as it tells what Rogers described as “a big, compelling story” about the University.

—Staff writer Laya Anasu can be reached at layaanasu@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @layanasu.

—Staff writer Elizabeth S. Auritt can be reached eauritt@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @eauritt.