I thought that this was awesome when I first read it...

Kaplan said that may be because colleges are keeping better records and now simply have more alumni to target who figure into the calculation. But she said they may also be focused on securing larger donations from major donors rather than on getting a broad base of alumni in the habit of giving, even small amounts. If that's the case, the strategy could negatively affect future fund-raising.

Heh, look at what I found...

"Alumni who make small gifts tend to be the people who end up making large gifts," she said. The Voluntary Support of Education Survey was based on replies from 971 institutions, a group that accounts for about 85 percent of voluntary support raised by colleges and universities. ___ On the Net: http://www.

I thought that this was awesome when I first read it...

colleges and universities rose 3. 4 percent last year to a record $24. 4 billion, according to a report released Wednesday.

Look at what finally happened...

"Fund-raising behavior has a strong effect," she said. "The number one reason people make gifts is being asked. Without that, the economy's not going to have much of an effect on giving.

I thought that this was awesome when I first read it...

UCLA, 10th overall, raised the most of any public university — $262 million. Overall, alumni donations last year accounted for 28 percent of university giving, non-alumni individuals 21 percent, corporations 18 percent and foundations 25 percent. Foundations generally ramp up giving more slowly than individuals when the economy recovers, as it has in the last two years.