<p>We just received a letter from the Yale Parents Annual Fund asking for donations. What's the usual amount donated to this fund? Or rather, what do you believe is an acceptable amount to donate?</p>
<p>Much thanks.</p>
<p>I suspect that the vast majority of parents do not donate at all. If you want to give, do whatever feels right. Even $25 would be appreciated, not for the actual money but for adding you as a donation statistic.</p>
<p>This is cited from Yale>> Tomorrow</p>
<p>"Annual Giving through
the Yale Alumni Fund
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, the Yale Alumni Fund raised almost $32 million from over 50,000 donors. The University would need an additional $640 million in unrestricted endowment funds to equal this essential support. Alumni and parent volunteers are integral to these fundraising efforts. Alumni and parent volunteers are integral to these fundraising efforts."</p>
<p>So if you calculate, it is about $640 per donated alumni. I have no idea about how much parents donated/ per family in the same period. We also received a letter from Yale. Do they send letters to every parents?</p>
<p>We got a phone call a couple of weeks ago from someone on the parent committee, and the letter last week. With D1 in her freshman year, and D2 and S waiting in the wings, it's kind of hard to think about giving to Yale beyond the gigantic chunk that disappears from my bank account on a regular basis right now.<br>
Aren't the stats kept primarily for alumni giving? I don't know if giving a token amount as a parent makes any difference to the alumni giving stats. We give to our own alma maters, and hope our kids will do the same when the time comes. Not sure I'm wild about tapping the parents... I don't think we'll be writing a check.</p>
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Not sure I'm wild about tapping the parents... I don't think we'll be writing a check.
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<p>I'm with you here, alumni giving should be for the alumni, not their parents. I feel like I'm supporting them every semester as it is and don't feel any need to send additional funds.</p>
<p>No money from us, either. The tuition payments are our 'donation'. H and I donate to our respective alma maters, and D can do it for Yale if she chooses to. I love the place, but it's her school, not ours.</p>
<p>They have to make up for those endowment losses somehow. :-)</p>
<p>The solicitations are par for the course. Swordmaiden: there is no "set" amount -- it could as easily be zero or a million. It's a donation and that's it. Whatever is on your parents' mind. Mine never gave anything to this fund. (they send money to Yale w/tuition however). Is $25 acceptable? Sure. So is $100 or $0.</p>
<p>I'm on the Board of my local Yale Club and we send our mailings to all alums and parents. Some parents join our events, the vast majority don't. It's just another connection, that's all.</p>