Organizational Identification and Alumni Donation: The Role of External Student Organizations

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: College Students as Organizational Actors

Abstract

The extant literature on alumni philanthropy shows a link between student involvement and alumni donation but the specific mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. Findings from a cross-sectional survey of over 10,000 university alumni demonstrate participation in external student organizations increases the likelihood of those students becoming alumni donors, and that alumni who had donated to their external student organizations were also more likely to have been university donors. In addition to contributing to the literature on alumni donation, this study has practical implications for university development efforts.

Author

• Stephanie G Wapner, The Ohio State University - Columbus