Donating to College Alma Mater

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Either one. I actually haven't been that impressed with what my sorority's been doing lately; in fact, I hear about great programming from some of the other NPC groups and I'm not quite sure what's going on out there. Also, when I reached out several times to volunteer, I didn't receive a response. There are other things, that may seem petty that I won't get into.

What things have you seen from other groups that you'd like AXO to be doing? Out of pure curiosity.

And you know, the "I reached out to volunteer and nobody got back to me" is something I've heard from members of other NPC groups as well (won't name them.) It's so important for our member groups to be diligent in getting back to people with volunteer options, have a system set up for fielding volunteer interest, or respond and say "no thanks, we don't have need for that at this time."

[KDCat]

I used to donate to my undergraduate school, but not my grad schools. I TA'd at one grad school and they got their money's worth out of us. The other school is so rich, it hardly matters if I donate.

I quit donating to my undergrad school after I got married. They started sending all of my mail to me in my husband's name -- "Mrs. John Doe." (My husband graduated from the same school.) I was royally pissed and still am. I'm an alumna in my own right -- they know my name. It's on my transcript. I didn't got there to get an MRS. degree. I have two graduate degees and a career in my own right. It's my money that they are asking for, not my husband's money.

Sending cranky mail to school did nothing to get my mail sent to me in my own name, instead of my husband's name. I started sending my money to Doctors without Borders and Heifer International instead.

[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.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

I do not donate to my alma mater.

I participated in a five-year bachelor's/master's degree program. During my graduate year, I lived in graduate student housing with my then-fiancé, also a grad student. We didn't have caller ID, but if you got a call from on-campus you heard a double ring, while if you got a call from off campus you heard a single ring.

So he and I are in our apartment one evening when the phone rings - double ring.

Me: Hello?
Caller: Good evening, may I speak to aephi alum?
Me: This is she.
Caller: Hi, I'm calling on behalf of the school's telethon. For a generous donation of $250, you can -
Me: Hold it right there. You called my campus extension, right?
Caller: Yes...
Me: You only dialed five digits, right? You didn't dial 9, right?
Caller: Right...
Me: You therefore KNOW that I live in grad student housing, and am therefore more than likely a GRAD STUDENT. A POOR STARVING GRAD STUDENT. And YOU'RE asking me to fork over two hundred and fifty dollars???
Caller: Um... well, class participation percentage is more important than the dollar amount. You could maybe contribute $100, or...
Me: No.
Caller: Or even $25... or even $10... <sensing a lost cause>
Me: How about zero?!?

And I hung up.

LOL!!! My alma mater has done the same and I too have to just hang up.

My situation is that it's not that I won't or wouldn't give to my alma mater, it's because my time & what spare money I do have usually goes to Kappa Alpha Theta causes--I support my chapter by volunteering (Advisory Board Chairman, Ritual Advisor, Administration Advisor, Facility Advisor) and I also purchase small things here and there for them like food & recruitment survival kits. I support my local alumnae group, which I founded as President and founded it to engage local alumnae to support my chapter. I am a yearly contributor to the Theta Foundation & our Friendship Fund. Being a Theta is one of the best decisions I've made and continues to be one of my greatest life experiences. It is both an honor and privilege to be able to give my time and what extra money I have to Theta, an organization that has and continues to give me so much.

[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)

[AXiDTrish]

Originally Posted by AXOmom

Well in all fairness to Uncle Phil, he doesn't just give to the athletic department. He does give generously on the academic side as well (although he gives more to our athletic department). When I said he builds pretty buildings for us - a lot of those are academic buildings that he's either built or remodeled. Some would argue that because he gives so generously to the athletic department - it is one of the few that runs in the black and doesn't pull any money from the school. He also gives A LOT to academics at Stanford.

Beyond that you have guilted me into thinking I should give at least a little something the next time they call. Do you work in fundraising because if not - you should consider it. .

No, I don't work in fundraising. LOL! I work in insurance! I tend to be passionate when I volunteer and I'm quite skilled at getting people to donate the three T's...Time, Talent, and/or Treasure! Everyone has something they are willing to give. I also love to network, so you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours! It's all about making it personal and I do that very well.

Don't feel guilty on my account. Everyone has their things they donate too.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by KDCat

I quit donating to my undergrad school after I got married. They started sending all of my mail to me in my husband's name -- "Mrs. John Doe." (My husband graduated from the same school.) I was royally pissed and still am. I'm an alumna in my own right -- they know my name. It's on my transcript. I didn't got there to get an MRS. degree. I have two graduate degees and a career in my own right. It's my money that they are asking for, not my husband's money.

I feel your pain. I have my own perfectly good first name, and I prefer Ms.

<threaddrift>My husband and I attended the same school, so we received two identical copies of our alumni magazine every time it was sent out. A few years ago, our alumni association sent a mailing to all married couples where both partners were alumni. They didn't want to waste paper by sending two copies to such couples, so the mailing asked if we wanted to continue receiving separate copies or just get one copy. We told them to send us just one copy.

From that day to this, whenever the alumni magazines are mailed out, we get a copy addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe" with a code indicating his major and year of graduation. AND we get a copy addressed to "Mrs. Jane Doe" with a code indicating MY major and year of graduation.

This saves paper how? </threaddrift>

[AOIIalum]

I do not give a dime to my alma mater, for various reasons I won't bore everyone with again. The best was one year when I got a call during what they consider as "rivalry Week" to raise more money than the opposing school, and yes, I'd already donated as a supporter to the other school's fundraising efforts. However, I have many donations through the years to my initiating chapter of AOII as well as to the AOII Foundation in a variety of capacities.

The thing that really gets me is when I get the donation pleas from the schools where our two oldest are attending. We're already paying for them to attend your schools and you want MORE MONEY??? Seriously?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

From that day to this, whenever the alumni magazines are mailed out, we get a copy addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe" with a code indicating his major and year of graduation. AND we get a copy addressed to "Mrs. Jane Doe" with a code indicating MY major and year of graduation.

This saves paper how? </threaddrift>

I worked with several married couples when I worked on campus. When they got things like that, it was typically "John and Jane Doe" -- seems like an easy fix lol

[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.

[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.