Do colleges consider if parent alumni have given donations?

[Anonymous]

Getting the usual end of year solicitations. My kid is only 6. No idea where she’ll want to go but I loved my college (SLAC) and would be thrilled if she went there. Now no one can see the future and I know legacy preference is becoming gauche. That aside, right now, do colleges look to see if parents donated over the years in considering admissions? I’m not talking major capital donations. I’m talking the annual $500 or so. My thought is they don’t, but I know my parents donated back in the day and told me it was to help when I started applying (I did not go to my parents’ alma matters).

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Not unless it’s enough $ to fund something.

[Anonymous]

They do consider whether you have given consistently, as part of family engagement and connection. Giving large amounts is a different consideration.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the college. Some do, many don't.

Legacy is a separate hook from the big donor category. Typically only the big donor would involve communication between the development office and the admissions office, with that communication going from the development person to admissions, not the other way around. For most colleges, when the admissions office is looking at their legacy app pile, they are not calling up the development office to get data on how often every alum gave. (Colleges are also aware that alums tend to give more once their child is enrolled.)

A separate observation about the big donor category: by the time your child is in college, if your child does not apply for financial aid and your level of wealth is very high as indicated by public records (e.g. property ownership, type of employment, etc), you can expect to get calls from the regional development people from your child's college looking for donations (regardless of whether you also happen to be an alum or not). Secondary to this observation, this may not mean anything for subsequent sibling admissions, as development may have more or less pull at different colleges.

[Anonymous]

I have given consistently to my state flagship for more than 25 years. I was told by the regional rep that this would be a positive factor for my kids.

I know many schools don't consider it at all, so take it for what it is worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They do consider whether you have given consistently, as part of family engagement and connection. Giving large amounts is a different consideration.

This

[Anonymous]

LOL your kid is 6 and you're thinking already you'd like her to go to your college?

wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL your kid is 6 and you're thinking already you'd like her to go to your college?

wow.

Eh, it's fine. My kid is 15 and I wish I had started thinking about this kind of stuff earlier. You go, OP.

[Anonymous]

I think my SLAC is aware of who gives regularly, even if it’s $100.

FWIW, you can find out if your alma mater gives any sort of legacy bump.

[Anonymous]

I think it only matters if you an donate a building. I know execs who donated 00.000s and it didn’t help their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the college. Some do, many don't.

Legacy is a separate hook from the big donor category. Typically only the big donor would involve communication between the development office and the admissions office, with that communication going from the development person to admissions, not the other way around. For most colleges, when the admissions office is looking at their legacy app pile, they are not calling up the development office to get data on how often every alum gave. (Colleges are also aware that alums tend to give more once their child is enrolled.)

A separate observation about the big donor category: by the time your child is in college, if your child does not apply for financial aid and your level of wealth is very high as indicated by public records (e.g. property ownership, type of employment, etc), you can expect to get calls from the regional development people from your child's college looking for donations (regardless of whether you also happen to be an alum or not). Secondary to this observation, this may not mean anything for subsequent sibling admissions, as development may have more or less pull at different colleges.

I work in development at a top 25 school and agree with all of this, especially the bolded part, and would add that the development office would notify admissions only in the case of very high-level donors or prospects. The average alumni donor gets no special consideration beyond what legacy confers.

[Anonymous]

It does depend on the school. Some state schools, for example, are forbidden by law from considering donations.

However, IME, you’re smart to think if this now, if donating is something you think you might do anyway. In addition to the big donors, schools do pay attention to who has given relatively modest amounts consistently over many years. At both universities I attended, giving even $500-$1,000 a year over 12 years or so will get you into a different category ($$ from someone who suddenly starts to donate their kid’s Junior year, not so much). I’ve been a consistent giver at about that level since shortly after I graduated. When my DC was the age that he would be applying to college, I got a handwritten note from a development officer at my undergraduate school, saying that I could contact her if I should need assistance. This is a school that regularly gets multimillion dollar gifts.

But this makes sense, as most colleges have a surprisingly low participation rate in giving by alumni. If they could get every alumni to give just a small amount, most colleges would have huge endowments.

I’d also add that, the amount of $$ required to get noticed at the vast majority of schools is lower than most people think. Low six figures will get you a development officer that is your best friend, even at a school with a healthy endowment. Especially if the money is for something like scholarships, since most endowments are limited in how they can be spent (usually capital improvements, etc).

[Anonymous]

When I graduated penn the office had a session where they told graduating seniors to donate even a small amount on a regular basis for their kids to be considered for admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the college. Some do, many don't.

Legacy is a separate hook from the big donor category. Typically only the big donor would involve communication between the development office and the admissions office, with that communication going from the development person to admissions, not the other way around. For most colleges, when the admissions office is looking at their legacy app pile, they are not calling up the development office to get data on how often every alum gave. (Colleges are also aware that alums tend to give more once their child is enrolled.)

A separate observation about the big donor category: by the time your child is in college, if your child does not apply for financial aid and your level of wealth is very high as indicated by public records (e.g. property ownership, type of employment, etc), you can expect to get calls from the regional development people from your child's college looking for donations (regardless of whether you also happen to be an alum or not). Secondary to this observation, this may not mean anything for subsequent sibling admissions, as development may have more or less pull at different colleges.

I work in development at a top 25 school and agree with all of this, especially the bolded part, and would add that the development office would notify admissions only in the case of very high-level donors or prospects. The average alumni donor gets no special consideration beyond what legacy confers.

This. Development calls admissions where they think it will be helpful. The threshold they call for can vary by school. I do not think it is only very high donors (as in millions). But it is not the $100 a year level that will get the call made.

[Anonymous]

If it's a very selective school I doubt that a few donations would make a noticeable difference in admissions chances (It might slightly tip the scales in your favor if your kid has perfect grades, plays a sport, and is full pay)