A March 2007 article in the Wall Street Journal* covered different practices at some colleges and universities to increase the numbers they report for alumni percentage of participation in giving. Why do these differences matter?

One reason is that the number of alumni gifts is one measure used by some foundations as they consider whether to support a college’s needs. Various surveys that rate schools use this criterion as well, such as the U.S. News & World Report in its annual ranking of higher education. Schools that have a higher percentage of alumni who give are boosted in the rankings.

At Kalamazoo College, we count gifts only one time and only when they come to the College. We do not use any of the practices the article calls “fiddling” and “legerdemain” to increase our rankings.

We hope all alumni feel their “K” education contributed to their intellectual and personal growth and, in turn, will give back to the College as alumni have done for generations to provide that same opportunity for students today. More alumni giving to “K” will raise our rankings, ethically and legitimately.

Sincerely,

Victoria L. Gorrell
Vice President for College Advancement

* “To Boost Donor Numbers, Colleges Adopt New Tricks,” Wall Street Journal, 3/2/2007, p. A1.