[quote="Beast of the East" post=396081][quote="Room112" post=396078][quote="Beast of the East" post=396045][quote="Mike Zaun" post=396032]As a '14 grad I started getting calls immediately after. I'm currently saving for a house and of course paying off SJ so I don't have much to spare, but donated last few times around. They sent me a thank you card with an individualized "at a glance" type thing about the program I graduated from, the year, the degree, etc. which was pretty cool honestly. They tried to call again recently. Once you give em a crumb, they become your best friend! In all seriousness though, I wonder the same as a poster above...why are we in such dire straits compared to your average private school? I thought we would be in better position than many. It's always hard to tell if things are exaggerated for effect or if it really is that bad. I get the sense we are too big a name to close for good...and I hope that's the case. That would be an absolute disaster.[/quote]
Mike, In terms of endowment, we have the second/third best liquid position in the Big East (1. Georgetown, 2/3 Villanova & St. John's) at about $700 million. Bobby G. focused fiscal management deserves all the credit for that. However, in comparison to other more stable schools, or endowment on a per student basis ($69,000 from the article posted) we fall into the at risk category. Although we are ranked high in the Big East in endowment, that is a deceiving number since a school like Villanova without a campaign since 2014, raises $100 million of "we can basically do whatever we want" money.
The reason schools start asking for donations immediately upon graduation is that they wish to create a culture of giving among alumni. Many schools ask for a tiny amount, for example $20.20 for 2020 grads. They publish the % of giving among their class or withing a particular college within the university (e.g. business school, nursing school, etc.) and create a goal of 100% giving. What they hope to engender are increased donations as graduates begin to have career success, and they endeavor to keep their graduates close to them with alumni gatherings and networking. In many schools, the 1, 5, and even 10 year reunions on campus are very well attended. In terms of getting increased requests for donations, I think it's just a well known fact that those who give once are more likely to give again than someone who has never given. Virtually every charitable organization devotes more focus to repeat donors.
Schools like Harvard, have a center for allumni in Manhattan, that frankly once inside, looks like you entered a medieval castle. Villanova opened a center in Manhattan for alumni about 5 years ago. These places often have meeting space, lounges, a bar, maybe even a restaurant, and also cater events that alumni have preferential treatment. These investments are almost certain to increase alumni giving, and probably help the school in all ways.
Almost certainly the goal is to create a relationship with alumni that makes alums feel closely tied to the school, proud of its success, and eager to help the school become bigger and better.
I'm told by those in administration that when St. John's runs events for alumni that are free, they are very well attended. If they charge even a nominal amount, they are not well attended at all. As a school and alumni base, we have a lot of work to do.
After many years of virtual inactivity save for season tix, I've met a lot of great people here on redmen.com and also through R-W. I always give first preference to qualified St. John's grads when hiring, because our strength is in our unity.
In terms of inactivating email addresses, I wonder if schools consider the liability of perhaps having alums appear to be students or administrators long after they have left the school. Most schools appear to have trended towards inactivating email addresses within 1 year of graduation or sooner. It could be a liability to the school to keep them active. It may also be getting pressure from companies that offer steep student discounts, Microsoft is an example whereby MS Office is sharply discounted for students, but I'm not sure.[/quote]
UConn has a NYC alumni chapter, but nothing to the extent you mentioned of what Villanova or Harvard have done. I've actually attended a couple of the events and left unimpressed, certainly nothing to entice me to want to donate.[/quote]
I really like the idea of an alumni center in Manhattan that is upscale, large enough, and could be a gathering place for alums after work or for special events.[/quote]
Founded without a location in 1865, by a group of Harvard University alumni, the club first rented a townhouse on 22nd Street.[3] In 1888, the members acquired land on 44th Street. The clubhouse was established in the neighborhood where many of New York City's other clubs, such as the New York Yacht Club, were located, and across the street from the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York.
Harvard Club of New York:
Resident / Professional Membership
$449 - $2,244 Fewer Details
Years since Undergraduate Degree Dues
Less than 4 Years $449
From 4 Years to less than 6 $673
From 6 Years to less than 8 $1,010
From 8 Years to less than 10 $1,497
10 or more Years $2,244
Listed dues are annual and do not include taxes. Dues category is based off your undergraduate degree year – Harvard affiliated or otherwise.
Gym Membership: Dues for gym membership are not included in the annual dues.
Entrance Fees: There is an entrance fee for all membership categories and is equal to 100% of the full year of dues, subject to a minimum of $150.00. Entrance fees may be paid in 3 installments over 2 years, with the first one-third installment due upon membership activation.
Villanova / Princeton Club
Georgetown / Princeton Club
Fordham / Princeton Club
[URL]https://www.princetonclub.com/Join/Affiliate_Schools[/URL]
University of Virginia and the Yale Club of New York:
[URL]https://www.yaleclubnyc.org/affiliates/uva[/URL]
