The Young Alumni Fund Raising Challenge

The job market is terrible for new graduates and young alumni, but development offices still want them as donors. At many institutions, this is leading to campaigns to get as many people as possible to give small amounts, such as $20.09 to symbolize this year. But there are also colleges that have decided this is a time to forget about participation rates and go for dollars.

Full-text article by Kate Maternowski is available via InsideHigherEd, 5.19.09.

Donations Are Up, But Not From Alumni

The Council for Aid to Education is releasing a report today that documents the "success of colleges in attracting support from alumni, other individuals, businesses and foundations" as well as some trends that could cause concern such a decline in alumni giving. The report expands on some explanations for this decline, including "a number of which are based on demographics and technology, not changing attitudes among alumni."

Read more of this February 20, 2008 article from Inside Higher Ed.

Why Young Alumni Don't Give

Statistics show that alumni participation rates are slipping, and a large factor to this is the lack of giving by an institution's younger alumni. Recent graduates make up a large portion of the alumni base, yet colleges and universities have struggled in reaching them with a clear and relevant message on the importance of philanthropy.

In this article, Sam Huleatt, a recent MBA graduate and entrepreneur, discusses this trend and ways that educational institutions can reach out to the younger generation.

Here is a link to the blog entry.