Alumni fundraising tactics

[thedelicatessen]

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How do your medical schools approach alumni fundraising with recent grads? My school targets all alumni, including those who graduated just in the last few years. While I understand the value and importance of loyalty to your institution, I think it's a bit unreasonable to be asking for donations from former students who are barely making any money in residency and still have student loans to pay off.

I recall from my alumni association in undergrad that they don't expect much involvement from alumni until maybe 10 years after graduation, but I personally think that for med school they should wait at least a few years until some alumni are out of residency. I plan on giving back to my school in the future, but I would be a little annoyed by people asking for money when I'm clearly not yet financially able to contribute. Agree? Disagree?

 

[EMH]

I got letters from my undergrad institution the summer after graduation. Two years later I'm getting phone calls. I just say I haven't begun to pay back the $25,000 I owe the bank for my education.

FYI: Your blog link in your signature is broken.

 

[notdeadyet]

I plan on giving back to my school in the future, but I would be a little annoyed by people asking for money when I'm clearly not yet financially able to contribute. Agree? Disagree?

I personally disagree, but with the notion of giving back to medical school at all. I sure love it here, but at the end of the day, among the many charities I'd like to support, helping out disenfranchised doctors and struggling medical students doesn't rate nearly as high as, say, the orphans or war widows...

 

[Twitch]

I had to email alumni relations to stop the unsolicited calls for money from my grad school telling them I'm a poor med student. Though I wonder if my name gets in the call after 10 years list?

 

[Ashers]

I had to tell one of those students from my undergrad doing the phone-a-thons that I'm still a student, and please don't call me.

I'm a firm believer that I gave the schools lots of money as it was while I was there, so I don't really need to donate to them after. There are far more people with more school spirit than I ever had who will donate. There are other causes to which I'll donate money, whenever I have it.

 

[-Goose-]

Hahaha - my school literally asks for donations from its students. I think they suggest some really low amount (like $25), but I think its bad form considering we have a negative income.

 

[Sifilis]

Someone from my undergrad school called me up trying to sell me an "alumni directory" (as opposed to just straight up asking for cash). I tried to explain to her that since I'm in med school, I have a negative income and can't waste eighty bucks on something like that, not that I would even if I had the money.

She then kept trying to explain to me what a great a great networking tool it would be. The ability of these people to ignore a logical argument amazes me, but I guess that's what they get paid for.

 

[45408]

Hahaha - my school literally asks for donations from its students. I think they suggest some really low amount (like $25), but I think its bad form considering we have a negative income.

like $25 helps when you already gave them thirty freakin' grand the past several years in a row.


I probably won't donate to my med school, because they have money everywhere. My undergrad on the other hand, I think could use the money a lot more readily. I'd be interested in sponsoring some scholarships for students who were like me in college.

 

[wanabdoc]

like $25 helps when you already gave them thirty freakin' grand the past several years in a row.


I probably won't donate to my med school, because they have money everywhere. My undergrad on the other hand, I think could use the money a lot more readily. I'd be interested in sponsoring some scholarships for students who were like me in college.

rofl, yes, I can't believe the nerve schools have, even though you just gave them 200k, they still want to nickel and dime you! I cannot ever image giving money back to my school after I graduate.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I had to email alumni relations to stop the unsolicited calls for money from my grad school telling them I'm a poor med student. Though I wonder if my name gets in the call after 10 years list?

Probably in the "Call a lot" list when they know you've got that MD by your name.

 

[Mobius1985]

Even if you only give $2 you increase the proportion of alumni givers, thus improving one of the statistics by which US News and World Report gives ranking numbers to institutions. That's why they are annoying you. Their gain is in reputation points, not wealth, when they successfully harrass a not-yet-productive alumni.

 

[EMH]

I'd be interested in sponsoring some scholarships for students who were like me in college.

That would be students who spend more time on SDN than studying?

 

[sprinkibrio]

How do your medical schools approach alumni fundraising with recent grads? My school targets all alumni, including those who graduated just in the last few years. While I understand the value and importance of loyalty to your institution, I think it's a bit unreasonable to be asking for donations from former students who are barely making any money in residency and still have student loans to pay off.

I recall from my alumni association in undergrad that they don't expect much involvement from alumni until maybe 10 years after graduation, but I personally think that for med school they should wait at least a few years until some alumni are out of residency. I plan on giving back to my school in the future, but I would be a little annoyed by people asking for money when I'm clearly not yet financially able to contribute. Agree? Disagree?

Look to Princeton undergrad for all the answers. Everyone gives there even right after graduation.

Seeing your name in print is something people generally like to see. I would think having a large majority of students make fund raising calls during their stay would help them feel like giving when they are being called.

They really should tell students how important it is for US News rankings. Since most people do care about that and how their alma mater will look for future jobs I think they would give more.

 

[SugPlum]

My undergrad school starts fundraising during senior year with the the senior class campaign. IT STARTS BEFORE GRADUATION.

 

[Ashers]

Look to Princeton undergrad for all the answers. Everyone gives there even right after graduation.

Until their kids get waitlisted... My dad stopped giving to them when I got waitlisted (after I applied way late etc); he figured it saved him some money every year.