That said, I think there is merit to providing value. I’d happily support an institution that could give me real value for my money. Be it through social activism, resources, programming or whatever. Don’t put out your hand unless you’ve got some goodies to dangle in the other.

So far, I haven’t seen a compelling reason to give to any of the institutions I’ve been a part of. Some (such as the Chicago City Colleges) provide several compelling reasons *not* to give. Others simply failed to engage me beyond the classroom; even at institutions such as Haverford and the University of Chicago that have a strongly enforced sense of physical community fail to reproduce that same sense of community online, and beyond the classroom. The Louis August Jonas Foundation (which runs a leadership camp for youth) is a nonprofit that makes precisely the same mistake, despite having a growing number of engaged, enlightened alumni.

I think the problem is that no one’s outlined *how* to build an engaged community in a form aimed at university / nonprofit administrators. I’ve yet to see a collective vision for an “ideal” nonprofit facebook application, for example, even as a techie. When such a document exists for non-techie decision-makers, we’ll start to see things changing. Until then, we’ll keep having the powers-that-be read this blog and tell us to set up MySpace and Facebook pages today (and then forget about it).

We need a guide to fostering community online, a how-to for successful social networks, and we need it described in language that makes it easier to evaluate and adopt as part of a technology strategy.

Or you guys can wait a while, and I’ll write one once I figure it out Anyone wanna help?

Great ideas. I found your entry inspiring and am crafting a three post series around this idea. I’ll post links when I do (and hey, you get an extra comment).

In my opinion, an alumni giving office must do three things to prove to me that my giving will be of value to them.

1. I have to get the message that my giving will be appreciated regardless of the dollar amount

2. I need to feel in control of how my dollars are used, as a donor as a larger donor would

3. I have to feel as if my donation benefits the community and increases my ability to support the institution in a way that has value

That being said, it doesn’t answer the question of how an alumni giving office can make this happen– but I will tell you. I need to be receiving holistic messages of community involvement from my alumni office in which the gift I make will only be one part of that.

I need to feel as my contribution to my
institute of education is more valuable than what comes out of my pocketbook and that they are seeking my personal value as a contributer and that I am not just a check in a box or a dollar in a piggy bank.

Fortunately, I graduated with an absolutely stellar education from both my high school and college and they are in regular communication with their goals and promotional material, so I have a really good sense of how this works.

Sam, from you, and also from the other commenters, I wonder what would need to happen for you to give to your school? Are there two or three things that they could do to make you want to give? What would they be?

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Maya Norton

The New Jew: Blogging Jewish Philanthropy

The issue is that most school falsely believe their current online directories are in fact social networks. Profiles and group features do not equal a community. What schools don’t understand is that alumni need to engage each other, not simply content.

Sam

Exactly. Education wise, the big name schools I attended for BA & MA didn’t do anything extraordinary. I mean - I attended Junior Colleges so I was able to compare the different schools. It was all the same: Powerpoints, Thick Books, and Homework.

You definitely nailed it: They forgot to build the Love. The Loyalty. For the teachers that made a difference, I still talk to them. I would rather build personal relationships with them than with an “institution”.

As far as solicitation methods, they don’t really matter when you care about the cause. WorldVision emails, sends regular mail, and (very rarely) calls me. I don’t mind giving to them. It’s all about the Love.

Edgar

I think it is key for nonprofits to remember that the best way to get donations is to make sure that donors love you, then move on to the best way to solicit donations.

After I graduated, I also found little help or support from my schools.

The job placement has always been a joke.

The Alumni Social Events don’t take into account family Life. Who wants to get together for drinks after work, or visit an art gallery on a Friday night when you have a baby at home?

In short, the schools and alumni groups need to build loyalty and brand recognition.

People who have the extra cash - well - they are always willing to help and most of them are very generous. The rest of us have student loans to pay.

Edgar.

I would guess that colleges, compared to most nonprofits, have an unique opportunity to connect with young donors since they have a real connection to the school and they are all college grads (ie. decent income).

Sam, can you point to any school who are doing the online network thing well?

Sam,

You raise some great points. I’m a young graduate myself from a great private college. Just to reiterate your point, whenever I recieve a fundraising notice from my school the first thing I do is throw it in the trash.

Question, why dont schools create private social networks like Facebook where alums would go and network? You could also provide easy donations methods through eash schools network.

Whoever decides to build such an application will do quite well especially with all the issues surrounding Facebook these days.

November 6, 2007 4:26 PM
Maisie said…
This post is great! As a youngish alum of various schools I am often inundated with development mailings.

To be honest, unless they are tied to something specific regarding my personal experience (aka class notes, about a former teacher, from someone I actually know), I often chuck them.

Ok, thats kind of a lie, even if there is a good hook I often don’t read. Why? Like the above commenter, I don’t really ‘do paper’. Reading real mail seems sooo slow.

All things electronic get to me faster, and since I work at a desk/computer, I am more likely to be ‘on’ and focused when reading email.

However, having recently become professionally involved in the development world I will have to get better about participation!