<p>Haven’t read all these posts but my hubby was just complaining about how our alma mater has been recently calling us for funds 2-3 times a year. Used to be that they called us only once a year. Since both me and my DH graduated from the same school, it amounts to nearly 6 calls for the household.</p>
<p>Guess the drying up of funds must be it!</p>
<p>DH and I have always been proud to donate to our school. Bearing in mind that our school supported us through our grad research and gave us a great start in Pharma R&D life, we feel we need to lend a helping hand to them in their time of need… I am OK with that but I would rather donate more at one time than get up to 6 calls a year.</p>
<p>I agree. I have a law school friend who doesn’t donate. She carefully considered my reasons for donating. I carefully considered hers. Basically, she thought that her donation would have a larger effect at her undergrad institution than at our law school, which had a larger endowment fund.</p>
<p>If you have fond memories and feel that the school contributed to your life, you give what you can. Even if it’s insignificant to the school just to show your love.</p>
<p>BC sends mail and luckily doesn’t have my number. I will not donate a cent to them though. I enjoyed my time there but I’d rather not give to the general fund. If I were to change my mind, I would only donate to one of the organizations I was apart of. Nothing more.</p>
<p>I’d rather (and will) give money to my underfunded high school where it will be put to good use for students and teachers that really need it.</p>
<p>I got a (student) call from my undergrad alum association requesting a contribution. I said sure and told him the amount I’d contribute. He told me the amount was lower than “required” for my graduation year. Never asked if I’d be willing to make that lower contribution but give up receiving the alumni magazine, which is the bang they give for my buck. Bottom line: he wouldn’t accept my contribution. Go figure.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of an outfit that refused to take my money, but several years ago I got a fund-raising call on behalf of my alma mater. I politely explained that I was not going to give any money that year because I was protesting a hiring decision that had been made at the college (a strong inside candidate was passed over in favor of an outsider with dubious qualifications, whom I felt had been chosen for all the wrong reasons). Instead of urging me to reconsider, the fund-raiser applauded me for sticking to my principles and agreed that I shouldn’t make a donation under the circumstances. We chatted for a while, and I found out that she did not work for the college but for an out-of-state marketing or fund-raising firm. It amused me that she was so quick to congratulate me on my decision not to give.</p>
<p>By the way, the appointment I was protesting turned out to be a disaster, as expected.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten calls from the college S currently attends and have politely explained that tuition payments will have to suffice for now. I am constantly bombarded with written materials from my alma mater asking for donations. What amazes me though is that my D, a senior in HS who would be a great addition to their campus, has received ONE letter from them and it was a real turnoff. I know they market to students. If you have $$ to ask me for more $$, maybe some of that $$ should go to admissions marketing. I’m sure other people feel differently, but if you’re going to constantly ask me for $$ to support students, maybe ask my daughter if she’d be interested in the school or make an effort to interest her.</p>
<p>The tin cans have been a-rattlin’ and the panhandlers a-handlin’ ever since I left, and the amount of money they ask for seems to be directly proportional to how fancy the mailings are. And with the economy the way it is now, whoa.</p>
<p>I received another call from my son’s university last week and I just used my usual line of two kids in college. My guess is that they’re using FAFSA information to create their hit lists. I really never should have filled out the first one and I’ll be sure to never fill another one out again.</p>