For universities, like Boston College, that rely heavily on the support of alumni, a timely acknowledgment of monetary contributions is an important part of the financial equation.
But some, like Arar Han, BC '03, call into question the University's system for recording alumni donations, claiming to have been slighted an appropriate acknowledgement. While no one debates the significance of a "thank you," it remains to be seen whether or not Han's case is unique.
Han recently donated to the Lynch School of Education to honor Monica Chandra, her mentor through the Council for Women and throughout her time at BC.
According to Han, she did not receive an acknowledgment of her donation nor the benefits promised in a timely manner.
"There was dead silence for a long time, then a thank-you note seven to eight months later. I received a subscription to The Chronicle one to two months after the thank-you card was sent," said Han. "It just made me question whether or not my gift was appreciated. It cheapened the experience."
Han expressed that although her gift was small, she hoped to give more significantly once she was older.
According to Dave Nuscher, director of advancement communications and marketing, Han's gift was indeed acknowledged. "BC is grateful for Ms. Han's generous contribution, which supported the most pressing needs of the Lynch School. The University sent three gift acknowledgments to Ms. Han: an e-mail acknowledgment was sent immediately, followed by a mailed acknowledgment two weeks later. Dean Joseph M. O'Keefe wrote to thank Ms. Han for her gift in March, as part of a new acknowledgment process that was tested in March, in which all gifts from the previous nine months were acknowledged at once. In the year since, with that process underway, the deans have been acknowledging donations on a monthly basis," said Nuscher said in an e-mail.
There are many ways in which BC recognizes the contributions made each year. "The University recognizes [alumni] support through a number of publications and events that highlight the impact that these individuals and their philanthropy have on scholarships, student life, faculty research, and the BC experience. Some donors, depending on gift level, receive a complimentary subscription to The Chronicle," said Nuscher.
Han claims she thought she would not only receive a subscription to The Chronicle, but that she would also be invited to meet with administrators such as University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., to discuss issues pertinent to the BC community. "There's a fine balance between requiring compensation for my gift, and expecting what's been promised will come," said Han.
Currently, the University uses a program called Millennium to catalog all donations made to BC. "Gifts in the first half of fiscal year 2006 were acknowledged all at once when this school-based acknowledgement program began in March 2006. Now, with the program up and running, acknowledgments are generated on a monthly basis," said Nuscher.
"I'm furious Ms. Han did not receive a timely thank-you. No matter how small or large a gift is, it should be acknowledged immediately and made personal. She waited a long time to get anything, which is unacceptable," said John Cawthorne, LSOE associate dean for undergraduate student services.
Han contacted Cawthorne in a letter in December to express her disappointment in BC's response to her gift. The same letter was also sent to Joanne Goggins, executive director of academic and donor relations.
According to Nuscher, the school annually receives donations from approximately 40,000 alumni, parents, and friends of BC. "In the fiscal year 2006, the University recorded gifts totaling $76.4 million. 38,895 individual donors (not including corporations and foundations) made gifts to BC."
BC, however, does not rank among its peers in financial support from its graduates. According to the advancement page on BC's Web site, BC comes in at No. 70 in its financial resources rank, compared to Duke at 12, Tufts at 37, and Notre Dame at 39. "It's well-known that alumni contributions at BC are small," said Cawthorne.
Even Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo has pointed out that among its Atlantic Coast Conference peers, BC is far outranked in its alumni gift rate.
BC keeps in close contact with its alumni. "The phone campaign begins close to graduation, and they're pretty aggressive. They continued calling even after I gave, and before I received any acknowledgment," said Han.
According to Nuscher's e-mail, the Boston College Magazine is sent out four times annually to alumni with U.S. addresses.
There is also a monthly e-mail for those with registered e-mail addresses, and invitations to events in an alumnus' particular region.
"The Boston College Alumni Association maintains a network of 40 regional chapters across the country and internationally, intended to keep alumni connected to the University," said Nuscher.
"Other schools work hard to ensure appreciation, but there's lower rates of giving at BC. I hope that an environment for giving can be nurtured at BC, to reconnect alumni and students," said Han.
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