Do you think ADs Google parents of applicants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They absolutely do -- and college admissions offices check facebook/myspace, etc of the applicants. There is a software that they can use that will also reveal the cyber history of the applicant. The Foundation Center has a lot of resources - for a fee - to research all potential donors. Heck I can find out what you paid for your house, etc and if/when you refinanced it. If you work for a non-profit I can view its 990 and see what your salary is.

Wow! How is that possible? Would that be a violation of privacy if it is your home computer?

[Anonymous]

If you post something on the internet it is out there forever. Things like facebook give ADs a look into someone's character, morals, ethics, etc. If your teenager has "drunk party pictures" on there and then removes them, they are still there forever. College admissions offices always hire a few college seniors to troll thru social networking sites of their applicants. I've even heard of parents calling the admissions office to give them a heads up on certain applicants -- as if to give their child a step up in the process.

[Anonymous]

HOW is it a violation of privacy if you/your child post something on the WORLD WIDE WEB??

[Anonymous]

12:26

is absolutely correct. Parents at a school will let AD's know of applicants that are problems and try to keep them from the school.

This is a much smaller community than you think. Parents network and know what is going on.

[Anonymous]

Some of the comments here, may make reasonable people on the fence about private schools and its "community", opt not to join. At the very least it feels a little creepy (someone's looking into you...). The comments here and ones on the discussion about donations, makes the private school enviroment (outside of the classroom), look bad.

[Anonymous]

private school = 'not-for-profit' business

headmasters of the important private schools easily make 1/2 million dollars per year in salary (minus mansion and other discretionary resources)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:private school = 'not-for-profit' business

headmasters of the important private schools easily make 1/2 million dollars per year in salary (minus mansion and other discretionary resources)

I've looked at some Form 990s, and the absolute highest salary I saw in the DC area was around $350,000. I did not look at every school's tax submission, so maybe PP can point to a couple that reach $500,000. I'd be surprised though.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Yes 12:00, it's more than google. They research your salary range, stock holdings if they're public, what boards you sit on, your home value and loan information and charitable giving to name a few.

FYI, a complete donor profile is typically done on parents that don't ask for Financial Aid.[/quote]


Is it true that a donor profile is done on families that do not ask for financial aid; how do you know? Where is this information found (i.e., salary range?) What is form 990?

[Anonymous]

13:31, google "prospect research" and spend a few hours. All your questions will be answered.

[Anonymous]

OK, this is the most fascinating thread ever on this board. Tell me more, all you people who work in development! I understand the in-depth research on serious financial types, but more broadly? Everyone who is not on aid? For real? And how do they put together a profile of Joe Schmoe the corporate lawyer? This is totally interesting.

[Anonymous]

Are my charitable donations out there for anyone to see? I thought my tax return was private?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Where is this information found (i.e., salary range?) What is form 990?[/quote]
I'm curious to hear the answer to this too, because I'm pretty sure my private business salary is not posted anywhere online, and people in my line of work are paid an extremely wide range of compensation, with a big delta between the top and bottom.

A Form 990 is an IRS disclosure that non-profits make. It identifies the five highest-compensated employees and their salaries, so if you're one of the five highest-compensated, your salary is publicly available. If you're not in that group of five though, your salary remains private (although I guess a Google-stalker could know it's lower than the lowest reported salary).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:13:31, google "prospect research" and spend a few hours. All your questions will be answered.

If you know the answers, why not just answer the questions? Don't get coy now.

[Anonymous]

Your personal tax return is private. However, many non profits post their donor list, by category, on line or at least on paper. All political donations -- even those "private parties" are posted online. If you sit on a nonprofit Board, most likely your name is posted somewhere as well. And yes, especially if you're not on financial aid (ie - you can pay for it therefore you have money) -- you are well researched.

To the person who said this kind of info may make people re-think privates -- you are completely wrong on so many levels. For some -- it just amps up the competition

[Anonymous]

I've looked at some Form 990s, and the absolute highest salary I saw in the DC area was around $350,000. I did not look at every school's tax submission, so maybe PP can point to a couple that reach $500,000. I'd be surprised though.

I distinctly recall reading a series of articles in the WSJ regarding the dispute at St Paul's School between the alumni and board and administration -- 7 to 10 years ago!

At that time the Headmaster of SPS was pulling in about $700,000 million per year (the assistant Head) about 300 million dollars per year. This was about 7 to 10 years ago.

Heads of the important private schools in NE, NY and D.C. pull in quite a bit of scratch for a not-for-profit school.