Despite the economic climate, two major Universities (Brandeis and YU)  have announced record levels of contributions for the past year. It is interesting that both recognize the value of gifts from their alumni and cultivating their graduates. The value is immense with an estimated 60% plus of gifts at many major universities coming from their alumni community.

But, alumni giving is much more than the dollar gifts. From Tactical Philanthropy:

“Schools that have a large percentage of donating alumni, especially among younger alums, are encouraging a mindset that spans beyond money. A donation from a younger alumnus is a powerful statement that his or her experience really meant something to them. In addition to foreshadowing future giving (likely at a more substantial amount), the same alumni who donate money are the ones helping promote evangelize the school brand, network and help students with jobs and volunteer for development efforts.”

Geez, I wish our Jewish communal organizations would recognize this. There are tens, and more likely hundreds, of thousands of alumni from various domestic youth and Israel long-term programs who having moved onward and upward in the world, maintain a fondness for these programs. Prime material not only for giving but generally supporting and promoting the ‘brand’.

As a community we have been anything but stellar in this regard. Some organizations, particularly the URJ’s camp network, have recently started to successfully move forward and correct this long-time oversight. Others like Hadassah’s Young Judaea, assuming the message they send to WUJS Arad alumni matches their other Israel programs, is quite honestly, a disgrace. (more…)

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