What is the minimum $$ I can donate to alma mater and still have my kids eligible for legacy bump?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like in person meetings with fundraising would be either unpleasant or pointless. What do you even talk about?

How to best structure your giving, how their needs align with what you are interested in supporting.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I'm more worried about it from the bad slacker end. I'm less concerned about trying to "buy my kid in" or something. It's more like, if I give zippo ever, are they going to think my kid is a bad prospect or something and then my kids' application will be harmed by my lack of participation? Do I need to give a little protectively to avoid that?

No. If you gave nothing, it will not impact your kid’s admission in any way, shape or form. Unless you’re donating enough to have a wing added on somewhere on campus, the amount you give (whether it’s $0 or $100 or $1000 a year) doesn’t matter.

I used to work in university development. Donations of less than 25K are generally handled in a more automatic process. After that point you will get a human contact but again keep in mind this is a minimum threshold.

I am 2500 a year and I have a person. Now that is every year for a number of years and am biglaw partner but she meets with me at my office once or twice a year. School has multi-billion endowment.

You have a person who meets with you regularly because their data suggests that you have capacity. That + your giving history leads them to believe that there are bigger gifts possible in the future.

TRUE. I was going to say the same. They are also hoping for a mention in the will. $2500 is chump change. It’s seven figures at Harvard.

DP. It may be 7 figures at Harvard. Obviously, all schools are not Harvard. But people on this board consistently overestimate the amount of $$ it takes to get on the radar at the vast majority of universities (I think it’s how they rationalize not giving). Consistent giving over a long period of time is definitely recognized, 5 figure giving is notable, and 6 figures will get you a development officer that is your best friend. This is even at schools with a large endowment. Endowments are usually limited in how they can be spent, so schools are always looking for scholarship money, etc. How that translates into admission depends on the school. Some don’t consider legacy or giving at all. For others, it’s a significant finger on the scale.

It cost 2.5 million to get Jared Kushner into Harvard 20+ years ago. I imagine it's significantly higher now.
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/news/a8718/daniel-golden-college-admission/

The percentage of alumni donating to the country's top 20 universities dropped over the last 10 years, but the average alumni contribution nearly doubled—meaning that this crucial source of support is coming from large checks written by a relative few. In 2015 alone, seven individuals made gifts of more than $100 million apiece to higher education, including one bequest. And as the ultrarich boost philanthropy to universities, the price for giving their progeny an admissions edge has escalated correspondingly. "People think that if they give a couple hundred thousand or a million they're big donors. That's just no longer the case at major universities," Notre Dame's Bishop said.

[Anonymous]

If you need to give money to get your kid admitted, something is wrong. Large donations impact very few admissions, and those are much larger than you can afford. Let your kid get admitted on their own merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I'm more worried about it from the bad slacker end. I'm less concerned about trying to "buy my kid in" or something. It's more like, if I give zippo ever, are they going to think my kid is a bad prospect or something and then my kids' application will be harmed by my lack of participation? Do I need to give a little protectively to avoid that?

No. If you gave nothing, it will not impact your kid’s admission in any way, shape or form. Unless you’re donating enough to have a wing added on somewhere on campus, the amount you give (whether it’s $0 or $100 or $1000 a year) doesn’t matter.

I used to work in university development. Donations of less than 25K are generally handled in a more automatic process. After that point you will get a human contact but again keep in mind this is a minimum threshold.

I am 2500 a year and I have a person. Now that is every year for a number of years and am biglaw partner but she meets with me at my office once or twice a year. School has multi-billion endowment.

You have a person who meets with you regularly because their data suggests that you have capacity. That + your giving history leads them to believe that there are bigger gifts possible in the future.

Exactly. I donated minimal to my alma mater, but they clearly had scraped my giving data, etc to see that I contributed a lot more to a number of non profits. They came to town, asked me to go to lunch, very casual. The next time they were in town, they invited me again. At some point in the meal, I indicated that I didn't really have the fondest memories of undergrad. Their faces fell. I picked up the tab at the end of the meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you need to give money to get your kid admitted, something is wrong. Large donations impact very few admissions, and those are much larger than you can afford. Let your kid get admitted on their own merit.

LOL, there are more qualified applicants than spots. That's the reality.

[Anonymous]

Friend who used to be on the board of an Ivy said the school doesn't care how much (unless it's $$$) but they do note if you haven't ever given. How much that matters is hard to say but I would give some small amount every year to be on the safe side.

[Anonymous]

I went to a state school. I have given every year since I graduated, anywhere from $50 to $500 annually.

I do think they care for the consistency etc. But I am pretty sure also, that for the SLAC and IVY type schools, you would have to be a 6-7 figure donor to move the needle.

[Anonymous]

OP, does your child have any interest in attending your alma mater? Is your child old enough yet for college to be on the radar at all? And if not...You do know that your kid may never want to attend your alma mater, right?

Since you say you'd rather give to charities that don't have a university attached, just do that, and better the whole world as you see fit. I'm hoping your question is just a thought exercise for you and that you are neither angling to buy your kid a college slot nor planning to push your kid to go to your alma mater no matter what. But this being DCUM, of course folks come out of the woodwork to say it's just fine to try to donate a kid's way into college.

[Anonymous]

I know of someone that donated 1,000,000 one year and 250,000 another year/ both years his kids were applying to his Ivy alma matter. Both were accepted. Only reason I know this is I was looking at the family foundation’s 990. So I assume the number is much less for not as well funded schools.

[Anonymous]

No. Just drop this line of thinking.

Let your kid apply where he/she wants and has some chance of being accepted, based upon the merits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you need to give money to get your kid admitted, something is wrong. Large donations impact very few admissions, and those are much larger than you can afford. Let your kid get admitted on their own merit.

Merit is assumed here. The question is of the 10s of thousands of kids with merit, can your donations as an alum help yours get picked?