My school always seems to have its hand out for alumni donations. We get mailings probably 3-4 times a year, and there is an annual telethon.
We received one of the "please give us money" mailings a couple of days after 9/11/01.
It had dropped the day before 9/11. Talk about bad timing...! The school sent a very apologetic letter a few days later.
My husband and I went to the same school... the alumni office can't seem to figure out that we're married, even though we have the same last name, address, and phone number. Usually he'll get a call, then five minutes later the phone will ring for me.
We also get two copies of every mailing, including the alumni magazine.
My personal favorite: During my graduate year, I was living in an on-campus apartment. The phone rang (single ring = internal call) - it was someone from the telethon. She identified herself, then went on, "For a generous donation of $250, you can help sponsor some of these many programs..." I very carefully explained to her that I was a grad student, she had to have known I was a grad student because she called my dormline, I had just written the school a check for $12,000, I hadn't bought my textbooks yet, and it was very unlikely I'd have $25, never mind $250, in my checking account once I did. If she hadn't started off by asking for $250, I might have sent in a small donation, but she put me off and I did not donate at all that year.
** There's a word of advice for you. Don't scare off alums (especially recent alums who might not have found jobs yet or who might be poor starving grad students) from donating by asking for a large sum of money. If they're inclined to donate, they'll donate as their means allow.