Donating Money back to RU

[MikeRU1766]

I just got a donation letter from Rutgers yesterday and they make the point that Rutgers has the lowest rate of alumni donations in the entire BIG 10. And they then mention that the % of alumni giving back and the overall size of the endowment is a factor in school rankings.

So if we are already being rated 33rd in the world by the Center for World Rankings and our Business School is being rated the 9th best value in the country.... imagine what we would be ranked if we actually donated!

So anyway I donated $25. I know it isn't much at all, but I am still doing my part and they did mention that $25 bucks from every alumni would be 6.7 million that Rutgers could do some big things with.

Did anyone else get this letter and donate or was I the only one? haha

 

[RUBlackout]

I did not get the letter at all but that is very poor on the alumni to not donate back at all--even the $25 like you said.

I am part to blame as well as I didn't give back to the school until I started attending football games so there was a 7-8yr period after school that I did not donate. That said, I am over 5 figures now yearly and the ONLY reason for that is athletics. I hope the school understands the power on investing in athletics as an attraction to donors.

 

[RUtix4me]

Always donate, you never know when a recruits plans wont pan out and they might need a schollie for Med School o_O

 

[Road Crew STU]

I did not get the letter at all but that is very poor on the alumni to not donate back at all--even the $25 like you said.

I am part to blame as well as I didn't give back to the school until I started attending football games so there was a 7-8yr period after school that I did not donate. That said, I am over 5 figures now yearly and the ONLY reason for that is athletics. I hope the school understands the power on investing in athletics as an attraction to donors.

I'm over 6 figures a year... If you count cents... And half cents.

 

[OntheBanks]

I've donated for over 30 years and I have zero credits from Rutgers having only taken 2 non-credit courses in my life. I worked with a lot of former grads that haven't donated a cent.
I actually drove a former grad over to the construction site when the new stadium was being built during the Doug Graber years and also drove him through Busch and Livingston campus and he didn't even know those campuses existed. And he lives only a few miles away. Never gave a cent.

 

[knightfan7]

Nowhere near 30 but I've been donating for years despite the fact I've only been on campus for sporting events and concerts.

 

[NotInRHouse]

bump, donate!

 

[imbazza]

OP is only off by a factor of 10 as it would take $250/alum to match Harvard at ~$6Billion and the rest of the top schools are around $5-$3 Billion USWNews will never boost Rutgers till we come up with Big $

 

[R1776U]

won't even buy a ticket till i know that stupid shit with "diversifying" R mascot is squashed like the stupidity that it is

 

[mal359]

As evidenced by some replies in this thread and others, we have some wonderful football program fans.

 

[i'vegotwinners]

I just got a donation letter from Rutgers yesterday and they make the point that Rutgers has the lowest rate of alumni donations in the entire BIG 10. And they then mention that the % of alumni giving back and the overall size of the endowment is a factor in school rankings.

So if we are already being rated 33rd in the world by the Center for World Rankings and our Business School is being rated the 9th best value in the country.... imagine what we would be ranked if we actually donated!

So anyway I donated $25. I know it isn't much at all, but I am still doing my part and they did mention that $25 bucks from every alumni would be 6.7 million that Rutgers could do some big things with.

Did anyone else get this letter and donate or was I the only one? haha

if the percentage of alumni donating and size of the endowment are criteria in school rankings, that makes the school ranking system look pretty corrupt.

 

[MikeRU1766]

if the percentage of alumni donating and size of the endowment are criteria in school rankings, that makes the school ranking system look pretty corrupt.

That is very wise statement. But I am under the impression that the % donating and the total amount donated are just a small factor in the overall ranking... as it should be. And that makes sense because it does show the connection alumni feel with the University and it shows a strength of the University to be able to fund special projects/programs. But obviously there are tons of more important things to rank a university on besides donations.

Either way though Rutgers was an awesome university to go to and imagine how much better it would be if we all remembered to pitch in a little when we can to help ourselves as well as our future generations.

 

[tm_nj]

I donated and did not get that letter. I do hope more people pitch in to help get our sports to do better.

 

[NorthNJRUFan]

won't even buy a ticket till i know that stupid shit with "diversifying" R mascot is squashed like the stupidity that it is

Nice! Can you let me know where your seats are? I'll gladly improve my seat location if your are better while you pretend to stage a protest.

 

[NJBorn]

won't even buy a ticket till i know that stupid shit with "diversifying" R mascot is squashed like the stupidity that it is

Its amazing how a minority of the student body can screw up donations for the whole school. A few older alums still not giving from Condeleeza Rice thing.

 

[NorthernKnight]

That is very wise statement. But I am under the impression that the % donating and the total amount donated are just a small factor in the overall ranking... as it should be. And that makes sense because it does show the connection alumni feel with the University and it shows a strength of the University to be able to fund special projects/programs. But obviously there are tons of more important things to rank a university on besides donations.

Either way though Rutgers was an awesome university to go to and imagine how much better it would be if we all remembered to pitch in a little when we can to help ourselves as well as our future generations.

Climb into the USNWR rankings and you'll see how trivial and easily manipulated the rankings are. Making that set nearly worthless.

 

[MikeRU1766]

Yeah that is true USNWR seems to always skew Rutgers lower than they should. TWO different ranking reports have come out recently ranking Rutgers #33 IN THE WORLD (while USNWR has us somewhere in the 40-60 range in just our COUNTRY!) and our Biz School as the #9 best return on value in the country.

The Center for World Rankings is the organization that rated us #33 in the world and this is because it takes into account research and grant awards that Rutgers successfully wins and completes which is a key goal for all universities. And the #9 Business School value ranking was by Fortune.

So I would say that USNWR has something odd going on in their ranking system and their weightings because their numbers are DRASTICALLY different than CFWR and FORTUNE.

 

[RU205]

I never understood why Rutgers alumni don't donate to the school. I didn't attend RU. I went to a small private school in the region. Every year I received a letter from the school to donate so I would send in $25 or $50 until I paid off my student loans. Now I send in more. I am a RU football fan so I buy season tickets and will give a small donation to the athletic department. What happens to students during the 4 years at RU that turns them away from supporting the school when they leave?

 

[RaySt]

Sometimes people tell me, with a sense of pride I can't understand that they never gave a dime to their school. And I just think why wouldn't they want their diploma to gain in value and it could cause the value of their education to decline (reality or perception). We will be associated with our school all our lives. Why wouldn't we want to help it be the best it can be? It's an investment in your school and yourself.

 

[mikefla]

http://ezramagazine.cornell.edu/SPRING15/CampaignNews2.html

I give to both Cornell and Rutgers regularly.

I am very proud that Cornell met their goal of one billion and went from 4.75 billion to 5.75 billion in just 6 months in this last drive...and had to amend the goal upward. That said it isnt so much about small donations as it is about deep pocket alums doing their share.

 

[MikeRU1766]

I wonder if lower donations has something to do with our political situation in this state with corruption being pretty rampant relative to other states. Maybe donors wonder if their money will truly be well spent?

 

[RU#1fan]

Nice! Can you let me know where your seats are? I'll gladly improve my seat location if your are better while you pretend to stage a protest.

Talk is cheap.

 

[derleider]

won't even buy a ticket till i know that stupid shit with "diversifying" R mascot is squashed like the stupidity that it is

Whats it matter to you? Rutgers has a diverse student body. One of the most diverse in the nation in fact - among the top 2 or 3 of BSC schools. If that student body decides that it wants a mascot (or mascots) that looks like more of them, then whats it to you. Would you not root for a team or the school if it was represented by a black or asian or hispanic looking mascot? Or are you merely offended that people of those races might have the gall to ask for that? Hell, if you actually want them to donate in the future and make RU better, it might even be a good idea to cater to them a little bit.

Its a liberal school. The student body is going to do liberal things at a high rate. I'm not sure how you aren't used to this idea yet. Its not like Rutgers just became this way. its been at least 50 years. But if every time the student body does something fiendishly liberal you threaten to pull your money - well you might as well just give up on the idea that you support Rutgers and start giving to Liberty University or some other school more in line with your political beliefs.

 

[jreinsdorf]

I wonder if lower donations has something to do with our political situation in this state with corruption being pretty rampant relative to other states. Maybe donors wonder if their money will truly be well spent?

I think this is a valid point. Jersey folks (and NY) are very guarded in the way they interpret the words and deeds of others. I also think that the same reasons people may not fill the stadium during inclement weather is similar to why donations lag behind. There are many options in NJ to put your disposable income and charitable contributions.

 

[rutgersnyc]

Many/Most of the posters on this board have made regular donations for decades and the total now is probably tens of thousands. But it is a shame that many thousands more contribute nothing. I am glad RU is trying to embarrass people into donating. We have nothing to lose. I am always shocked at the many irrational NJ citizens who have a hatred for Rutgers. It has been going on forever and it is like nothing that exists in any other state.

 

[dollarbill]

It's two words-New Jersey. $$$$

 

[R1776U]

Whats it matter to you? Rutgers has a diverse student body. One of the most diverse in the nation in fact - among the top 2 or 3 of BSC schools. If that student body decides that it wants a mascot (or mascots) that looks like more of them, then whats it to you. Would you not root for a team or the school if it was represented by a black or asian or hispanic looking mascot? Or are you merely offended that people of those races might have the gall to ask for that? Hell, if you actually want them to donate in the future and make RU better, it might even be a good idea to cater to them a little bit.

Its a liberal school. The student body is going to do liberal things at a high rate. I'm not sure how you aren't used to this idea yet. Its not like Rutgers just became this way. its been at least 50 years. But if every time the student body does something fiendishly liberal you threaten to pull your money - well you might as well just give up on the idea that you support Rutgers and start giving to Liberty University or some other school more in line with your political beliefs.

ever hear the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"... prepare to lose a lot of donors/ticket holders.. and if it really meant that much why doesn't the members that voted for this crap personally volunteer to parade around like idiots?

 

[Scarlet16E]

Its amazing how a minority of the student body can screw up donations for the whole school. A few older alums still not giving from Condeleeza Rice thing.

Not really. Anyone who says they are withholding donations over some trivial matter is likely someone who never would donate anyway. They will just find the next excuse not to donate.

On the other hand, Rutgers is experiencing record levels of donations.

 

[zgoru]

Not really. Anyone who says they are withholding donations over some trivial matter is likely someone who never would donate anyway. They will just find the next excuse not to donate.

On the other hand, Rutgers is experiencing record levels of donations.

Was just about to say the same thing, People hiding behind so called outrage just to be cheap.

 

[RUnTeX]

Was just about to say the same thing, People hiding behind so called outrage just to be cheap.

Also, instead of momentum built up by record donations to fuel further donations, many will rationalize that why should they donate if Rutgers is receiving more donations than ever before so Rutgers shouldn't need their money now, they already got enough from other people.

 

[NotInRHouse]

And the posters who insisted they would have nothing to do with RU because we hired the most qualified AD in our history and had a graduation speaker cancel despite the admin supporting her, continue to come here and post, presumably to remind us of how wrong they are about athletic directors, graduation speakers, donations, and political issues.

 

[derleider]

ever hear the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"... prepare to lose a lot of donors/ticket holders.. and if it really meant that much why doesn't the members that voted for this crap personally volunteer to parade around like idiots?

You assume its not broke. But Rutgers-NB is already majority minority (55% non-white). That will likely only increase with time. At some point the alumni base will also be majority minority. The very people that will be called on to support Rutgers in the future.

Of course the solution is actually simple. Just make the knight armor clad like the one who rides the horse. Could be anyone under that armor (just like in fact the current mascot could be any race or gender.)

If we lose donors because we don't have a white mascot - well I think that says alot more about the donors than the school and its students.

 

[ru66]

some sad posts here--in the amount some donate and in the excuses for not donating--and by the way RU is not a super liberal achool