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Post by mm67 on Jul 4, 2024 17:40:08 GMT -5
I thought many younger alums were very happy with their HC college experience unlike many of my classmates. Yet there seems to be a disconnect between college satisfaction and alum giving. So.....
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Post by alum on Jul 5, 2024 6:02:39 GMT -5
Goal was 40%. Unofficial results were 37% (13,578 donors; 36,660 alums) Holy Cross Fund: $10,384,905 Other Giving: $14,300,375 Total: $24,685,280 Personally disappointed the goal was set so low, when it used to be 50%+ and then couldn't even make that. From the Advancement Office, they make the case that all of our peer schools are way down and we are still among the top in participation ratio. Knowing that older classes, like my own, achieve well over 50% participation, it seems the younger generations just don't achieve those kinds of numbers. This year they put a hard stop of 6/30 and I am not sure if that partially accounts for missing the goal as many alums wait literally for the last minute. And the last minute which might have "counted" in the past, did not this year. I see 10 of my Classmates are listed as giving 7/1 or later I don't think we are very different than most classes. . Do they make phone calls in the last couple of weeks of the fiscal year to missing donors anymore? Would it matter if they did since few pickup calls from unknown numbers? I have to think that costs a few percentage points as compared to the past. There are acronyms for those who need to be chased down: LYBUNT and SYBUNT. |
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Post by rgs318 on Jul 5, 2024 7:04:39 GMT -5
I have a great group of classmates that I contact. This year four regluar contributors did wait until the last week and one came in after 6/30. BUT, 9 out of 10 on time was not bad. There are 5 who contribute as soon as January which does make contacts a lot easier.  |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jul 5, 2024 9:33:56 GMT -5
Goal was 40%. Unofficial results were 37% (13,578 donors; 36,660 alums) Holy Cross Fund: $10,384,905 Other Giving: $14,300,375 Total: $24,685,280 Personally disappointed the goal was set so low, when it used to be 50%+ and then couldn't even make that. From the Advancement Office, they make the case that all of our peer schools are way down and we are still among the top in participation ratio. Knowing that older classes, like my own, achieve well over 50% participation, it seems the younger generations just don't achieve those kinds of numbers. This year they put a hard stop of 6/30 and I am not sure if that partially accounts for missing the goal as many alums wait literally for the last minute. And the last minute which might have "counted" in the past, did not this year. I see 10 of my Classmates are listed as giving 7/1 or later I don't think we are very different than most classes. . Giving to the annual fund in 2023 was $9,865,000. Other giving in 2023 was $10,916,000. |
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Post by WCHC Sports on Jul 5, 2024 12:20:52 GMT -5
My extra funds/cash are not really available this year. Car insurance has nearly doubled. HVAC system crapped the bed after new years and have been living on a rescue motor (which I had to pay for repairs/instlalation as a temporary fix). Back patio deterioration another couple thou. Seems like a bunch of stuff all urgent and all at once this year hitting the reserve funds, while everything else is INSANE from a cost perspective. Everyone trying to take my literal last dollar. It's not scalable.
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Post by mm67 on Jul 5, 2024 12:49:49 GMT -5
Is the shortfall a canary in the coal mine? Read recently, Manhattan College in the Bronx w/an endowment in the $50 mill+ range is in dire economic straights. As we all know other post secondary institutions are in a similar situation or worse.All this with declining demographic Armageddon on the horizon. Small LAC like HC are in the bullseye. Now more than ever HC needs our money. Every dollar from the smallest amount to the millions is needed. Are younger alums aware of this? Do they care enough to send a small amount to alma mater? I thought many were enthusiastic undergraduates. Financial hardship does not excuse sending a small amount to HC. HC needs to get to work soon if it is to maintain and improve its standing. $2 billion plus in '25 or bust! GoCrossGo
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Post by longsuffering on Jul 5, 2024 18:40:08 GMT -5
Total donations are rising. HC will be able to postpone selling seat licenses at Fitton and the Hart for another year.
Despite ominous trends for higher ed, schools have entered a student amenity space race adding costs instead of becoming more efficient and streamlined, reducing costs. Age 18-22 is an age bracket where people don't really have to be coddled or wowed, but a large amount of money has been spent to do so. Like McGuinn and McGuire in "Creeque Alley" by the Mama's and Papa's, tuition just a gettin' higher.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jul 6, 2024 4:16:47 GMT -5
My extra funds/cash are not really available this year. Car insurance has nearly doubled. HVAC system crapped the bed after new years and have been living on a rescue motor (which I had to pay for repairs/instlalation as a temporary fix). Back patio deterioration another couple thou. Seems like a bunch of stuff all urgent and all at once this year hitting the reserve funds, while everything else is INSANE from a cost perspective. Everyone trying to take my literal last dollar. It's not scalable. Geez, I fear we may be living under the same black cloud, WCHC - dishwasher, air conditioner, cpap machine and toilet all crapping the bed (pun intended), basement waterproofing, electrical work.....let's hope for a quiet second half of the year! |
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Post by HC92 on Jul 7, 2024 11:08:38 GMT -5
Glad my financial misery is having company. We planned a vacation a year ago as it’s getting harder to find a week when the whole family can go. So, that one is on me. The same week the vacation came around, the minivan died and had to be replaced. And the Central Air died and had to be replaced. Then my daughter had ankle surgery as soon as we got back with all the associated co-pays. And tuition payments to two not cheap colleges are due shortly. Accepting donations of football and basketball tickets for 2024-25.
But the 37% donation rate at HC is troubling given that I feel like we hovered around 50% for a long time.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jul 8, 2024 8:55:55 GMT -5
BC reported that their undergraduate alumni participation rate reached 21 percent, the highest since 2019.
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Post by WCHC Sports on Jul 8, 2024 9:22:54 GMT -5
My extra funds/cash are not really available this year. Car insurance has nearly doubled. HVAC system crapped the bed after new years and have been living on a rescue motor (which I had to pay for repairs/instlalation as a temporary fix). Back patio deterioration another couple thou. Seems like a bunch of stuff all urgent and all at once this year hitting the reserve funds, while everything else is INSANE from a cost perspective. Everyone trying to take my literal last dollar. It's not scalable. Geez, I fear we may be living under the same black cloud, WCHC - dishwasher, air conditioner, cpap machine and toilet all crapping the bed (pun intended), basement waterproofing, electrical work.....let's hope for a quiet second half of the year! Haha don't follow my jinx! The dishwasher light went off last night mid-cycle and thought I was going to have to add that to the list. Fortunately it's just an LED! My wife swears by "Mercury in Retrograde," but if I told her the number of times it appears to do that based on its closer orbit to the sun, she'd be in a panic (and PP would probably use his rocket science/NASAknowledge to correct me  ) |
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Post by WCHC Sports on Jul 8, 2024 9:24:14 GMT -5
Financial hardship does not excuse sending a small amount to HC. I signed no such contract. I've already plotted out my donations and contributions when I hit lotto, and I can assure you that there is a plan that includes Holy Cross as well. Until then, and since then, it's as long as I am able. |
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