Alumni giving at a small liberal arts college: evidence from consistent and occasional donors

Profiles of Supportive Alumni: Donors, Volunteers, and Those Who “Do It All”

“…As age increases and families mature, so does capacity and the likelihood of increased philanthropic contributions to their alma mater ( Pendel, 1985 ;Connolly and Blanchette, 1986 ;Hueston, 1992 ). Many studies suggest that giving is associated with occupation, increases in age and household income ( Olsen et al ., 1989 ;Baade and Sundberg, 1996 ;Belfi eld and Beney, 2000 ;Wunnava and Lauze, 2001 ;Clotfelter, 2003 ;Monks, 2003 ;Thomas and Smart, 2005 ).…”

“…Mael and Ashforth (1992) suggest that donors who are emotionally attached establish a " perception of oneness with or belongingness to an organization where the individual defi nes him or herself in terms of the organizations in which he is a member " ( Caboni, 2003, p. 6 ). In general, volunteering at the college or institutional level is associated with alumni giving to the university ( Taylor and Martin, 1995 ;Wunnava and Lauze, 2001 ;Clotfelter, 2003 ) and alumni who have long intensive experiences with their alma mater are likely to be more generous to the institution ( Korvas, 1984 ).…”

“…For example, family legacies add signifi cant fi nancial, time, and emotional investment in a campus. The presence of these family ties to institutions is associated with alumni giving ( Okunade and Berl, 1997 ;Wunnava and Lauze, 2001 ).…”

Don’t Put All of Your Alums in One Basket: College Admissions Decisions as a Portfolio Choice Problem

“…Bruggink and Siddiqui,1995;Okunade et al, 1994;Wunnava and Lauze, 2001), identifying descriptive variables that predict philanthropy (Lara and Johnson, 2014;Meer, 2011;Meer and Rosen, 2007; Clotfelter, 2003; Monks, 2003;Cunningham and Cochi-Ficano, 2002; Forbes and Zampelli, 1997;Lindahl and Winship, 1992). Obvious demographic variables such as age, gender, ethnicity, and marital status have been shown to have predictive power, as have activities while in school (major, involvement in college sports, GPA, affiliation with a fraternity or sorority, certain kinds of financial aid) and post-graduation factors (time since graduation, number of relatives at one's alma mater, reunion years, willingness to share contact information with the college, response to college surveys, highest degree attained, participation in student government, induction into honorary societies, participation in alumni activities).…”

Determinants of alumni membership in a dues-based alumni association.

“…Okunade and Berl (1997) found that among business school alumni, those with family ties, particularly a spouse who is a fellow alum, led to a greater amount of alumni giving. Wunnava and Lauze (2001) studied alumni within a selective liberal arts institution and also found that alumni with relatives who had attended the alma mater were more likely to give than nonlegacies. Clotfelter (2003a) found similar results in a study of alumni from private colleges and universities.…”