<p>Do you donate money to the college that your child is attending? Of course merit money is given with no strings attached, but do you give back some of it anyway? There must be others out there like me who were surprised that their ok-but-not-tiptop student was awarded a "merit" scholarship. Actually in our case, "shocked" would be an understatement. My son also received a scholarship from his church. </p>
<p>Now obviously there is a huge tax savings if we receive for example $5000 of merit money (tax free) and turn around and make a $5000 tax deductible contribution to the school (or church). There has not been the slightest hint from either institution that there is any expectation or obligation of payback (is that what quid pro quo means?) I just feel a bit of a moral obligation to donate some of it back. So, that's my question. Do you say "Thanks for the money" and view it as a well deserved windfall or do you donate some of it back, figuring we all come out ahead this way?</p>
<p>We are putting two through school, DS and grandS. DS has wonderful merit money. Initially, our thoughts were "call us when we're through with the 4 years of tuition." Now, because Tulane has suffered so much from Katrina, I believe we will do some donation now rather than later. I do, certainly, feel very grateful and desirous of paying back.</p>
<p>I received a tiny amount of merit money from my college when my father died after junior year (of course, COA was relatively "tiny" then too - $3100 at Wellesley!). I have always felt I wanted to repay that through annual donation earmarked for merit aid.</p>
<p>Here's and idea. Put $ into a 529 (state kind, and fairly conservative, and that you actively manage). At the end of kids schooling, let 529 pay for last semester and you donate like $ to school and church. Everyone will win at a hopefully higher level, and you have more flexibility or options.</p>
<p>S will go to college based on what kind of merit aid he gets. After he finishes his education, I feel it will be his responsibility to show his gratitude by being a very committed alumni volunteer with the college and/or by donating to the college.</p>
<p>I am very grateful to my alma mater, which gave me need-based aid, and I show my appreciation the way I accept S to do with his alma mater.</p>
<p>we have a long list of non profits that we donate to, including schools and the college D is attending.
We give what we can afford, and may give more to an organization if we feel more strongly about their mission, their success in steering resources to accomplish their mission and their percieved need.
If a merit award, enables you to feel that you can comfortably donate more to the college, then I would go ahead and give it.
I don't see it as a "receives a benefit " from the donation, as S would have received the award, seperate from your donation, but if you had earmarked blank for tuition, but because of these awards are able to reduce your expenses, I think it would be a nice gesture to give back again, and enable those organizations to continue to provide those awards for others.</p>
<p>Your question made me realize that my D's school has not once asked us for any money! Of course, we are paying plenty enough as it is (and she does have some merit $$).</p>
<p>I'm like northstarmom, I repay my alma mater's generous aid by volunteering and contributing every year to the annual fund. I expect my daughter to do the same.</p>
<p>I agree with the others that the quid pro quo applies to the student getting the money. It does seem like an admirable notion for the parents to donate that "extra" money to a worthy cause (which could be the college your kid's attending).</p>
<p>We do donate an amount equal to a grain of sand in the ocean to son's school. It is just a way to say we support them. They are very nice people. We get lots of mail from them and invitations to lots of events. I don't know if the mail is because we are parents or because we give a teeeny tiny bit. We have attended some of the functions and the people are just so nice. We are happy son chose such a nice place. I used to give to my school but they just want more and more and called and called, I finally said please stop calling-they didn't-they do now. </p>
<p>I figure we are going to donate to good causes anyway. I think i would w/or w/o the merit aid.</p>
<p>My older son's alma mater is also mine, and I have donated a few dollars every year for as long as I can remember, because I was grateful for the scholarship help they gave me and wanted to help other students (though what I give won't do much). I do not donate anything to my younger son's college, because they do not even meet need, and although he does have a small merit scholarship, it is all we can do to come up with what we are expected to pay. When he graduates, he can donate to them, if he chooses (once he gets his loans paid off!).</p>
<p>Now this is interesting.... I wonder. We get solicitations all the time from S1's college where he is still in attendance, and they don't give any merit scholarship. I wonder if they solicit the parents of need based FA students? Maybe, maybe not.</p>