I just got mail from undegradaute alma mater. Note, that's not email - I mean paper mail. This can't be good. When is mail from anyone but family and friends a good thing? As I began opening the letter I started to realize I was being asked for a donation. Okay – not so bad. But why a letter when an email would have sufficed. This is just one small problem with today’s universities' fundraising campaigns.
Let’s say I like giving back to my university. Heck, I’m a passionate fan of my alma mater. I even believe the money will be used in the right places. But….
Does the university know I just gave two months ago?
Will I ever get a tax form for that donation?
What about my other alma mater – do the schools know I have to give to both?
Btw, how much should I be giving? I’m a student after all. Shouldn’t schools know not to keep pinging me right now?
My friend just supported his school and I wonder how much he gave. Hmmm – I actually wonder what all my peers are giving in the aggregate.
I hope I’m giving more than my rival school – I would love to see “us” do better than “them.”
Also, can someone tell me what I gave four years ago? I can’t.
Is there a solution to these problems? There is. Is it a for-profit business that scales? It is. Will you ever hear about it? You will – at SeedCon Fast-Pitch.
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