Donating to College Alma Mater

[KSUViolet06]

No, but it's because I'm currently working on a 3rd degree from there.

[southbymidwest]

Yes. Every year. I am also a lifetime alumni association member. I had a wonderful time academically and socially at my school. I had a number of great professors, and classes I found to be fascinating. Yes, I did have my share of TAs that I had a hard time understanding, but that is the way it is. I learned so much about life that had little to do with classes. I was beyond happy when my youngest decided to go there. She just graduated, after having a great four years also both academically and socially. Midwesterners really are welcoming to those who have not grown up in the Midwest. Anyways, I donate to a specific scholarship fund set up in the memory of a dean of the College of Business that was a friend of my father's, who also was a really great guy.

[Mevara]

I do not donate to my school, it just isn't in my budget. I could see in the future maybe giving a little, but I would much rather give it to my GLO.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Mevara

I do not donate to my school, it just isn't in my budget. I could see in the future maybe giving a little, but I would much rather give it to my GLO.

Perhaps I should have noted when I posted upthread that I am mindful that part of the Object of Phi Mu Alpha is "a loyalty to the Alma Mater." So in my view, part of what my fraternity experience has nurtured and part of what I believe my fraternal obligations entail is that loyalty. Fortunately, my alma mater and its leadership have never given me reason to question that loyalty. I'm not sure how I'd feel were I to be faced with some of the situations others have described; I think at some point I'd feel like the institution wasn't my alma mater any more.

[lovespink88]

I'm not sure if I would have ever donated to my alma mater if I wasn't a student caller when I was in undergrad. I think working that job for two years made me appreciate all the awesome things donors can help with, so I wanted to make sure I was a part of that when I graduated.

I donate directly to the College of Media scholarship fund. While I did not have a scholarship while I was there, I am EXTREMELY proud that my school has one of the top advertising programs in the nation, and I enjoy being able to help a deserving student in that field.

I also donate to my high school. I went to a private all-girls school and I really think the school helped to get me on the right track to success. I loved my four years there.

I also donate to Alpha Xi Delta...but not as much my schools (not that I donate a lot to them! lol)

[libramunoz]

I don't donate to my undergrad and would never like HELL donate to my grad school.

I just cannot afford to donate to my undergrad right now-- things are toooooo tight.

As far as my grad school, hated being there, but since I had already committed and the financial aid was already sent, had to go. It's a good school, but I just wouldn't give a dime.

[Senusret I]

Prior to this year, I gave back to Georgetown by donating to my Alpha Phi Omega chapter and to the university step team by making a donation at the annual step show.

This year, I am deciding instead to give a small monthly recurring donation to the scholarship imperative in the name of my friend and fellow Hoya who died of complications from sickle cell disease.

I decided to give back directly to the school for several reasons:

Because I believe students and their parents should be responsible for their own student life/club/organization experiences.

Because honoring my friend was important to me.

Because African American donors need to be counted.

Ironically, because I was the beneficiary of several named scholarships, I was less likely to give to scholarships at my school. I always felt like I would never be able to make as large a contribution as my benefactors did, so my meager dollars could go elsewhere. I don't believe that anymore.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Ironically, because I was the beneficiary of several named scholarships, I was less likely to give to scholarships at my school. I always felt like I would never be able to make as large a contribution as my benefactors did, so my meager dollars could go elsewhere. I don't believe that anymore.

I think this is pretty common. People are kind of intimidated by the large amount of money that it takes to run a school/endow a scholarship and don't think their considerably smaller donations are good enough. Also, if you didn't go to a private high school, the concept of giving money to your school is a foreign concept.

Any little bit helps.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Also, if you didn't go to a private high school, the concept of giving money to your school is a foreign concept.

I didn't go to a private high school, and it wasn't a foreign concept to me at all. In my family, the foreign concept was the concept of not being an engaged and contributing alumnus/a.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Also, if you didn't go to a private high school, the concept of giving money to your school is a foreign concept.

That isn't true.

And I think grown adults are clear as to the difference between donating to a high school alma mater and a college alma mater. A lot of people who donate to their college alma mater(s) never donated to their high school, private or public.

[Munchkin03]

Should I change it to "can be a foreign concept?"

While "grown adults" may be familiar with the difference, 18-22 year olds, many of whom might come from modest backgrounds where ANY sort of philanthropy/donations were rare, may not be. Many development efforts these days are geared towards the "rising generation;" it's the idea that if you get a young person to donate when they're young and have less money, they'll continue to donate.

Also, donations aren't the ONLY way to be an engaged alumnus; I'm not sure where I said that since I mentioned my history of donating AND volunteering. When I didn't give much money at all, I still volunteered like no one's business. Now that I have less time to give but more $$$, it's easier for me to write a check.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Should I change it to "can be a foreign concept?"

That works, I think.

Also, donations aren't the ONLY way to be an engaged alumnus; I'm not sure where I said that since I mentioned my history of donating AND volunteering.

Didn't mean to suggest you did. I was just speaking from my experience.

[Tulip86]

I don't donate, since I still attend grad school, but probably won't donate after either, since I'm not satisfied with the way things are handled.

I do donate to all the student organisations that I was a part of during undergrad, as they contributed to my personal growth in many ways.

[DrPhil]

In that case, I do not donate time or money to my alma maters.