Should I give money to my law school alumni fund? Forum

[helfer snooterbagon]

I graduated from Chicago Kent in 2011 - I had a good time there and have a good job that I enjoy. Now I am getting calls from the Alumni Assocation. On the one hand, I got a good (sure some will argue this) education and have nothing against the school. On the other hand, I feel like they charge plenty of tuition and am unsure where my money would go. I feel like I would miss it a lot more than they would notice it. Have others given back?

[09042014]

I'm paying way more than my degree cost. No way am I giving a dime back.

[Gorki]

I graduated from Chicago Kent in 2011 - I had a good time there and have a good job that I enjoy. Now I am getting calls from the Alumni Assocation. On the one hand, I got a good (sure some will argue this) education and have nothing against the school. On the other hand, I feel like they charge plenty of tuition and am unsure where my money would go. I feel like I would miss it a lot more than they would notice it. Have others given back?

I guess I wouldn't donate it unless the tax deduction makes you feel warm and fuzzy... Guess I personally can think of many other charitable donations that would make me warm and fuzzy that do not involve law schools.

[I.P. Daly]

Are there any benefits? My school invites alumni to attend numerous free CLEs, open bar networking events, etc., which are funded by the alumni fund.

[tim.janitor]

I graduated from Chicago Kent in 2011 - I had a good time there and have a good job that I enjoy. Now I am getting calls from the Alumni Assocation. On the one hand, I got a good (sure some will argue this) education and have nothing against the school. On the other hand, I feel like they charge plenty of tuition and am unsure where my money would go. I feel like I would miss it a lot more than they would notice it. Have others given back?

I heard of people donating to students at the school instead of the law school. Because the students are getting screwed right now. Who would appreciate it more?

[kalvano]

I'm paying way more than my degree cost. No way am I giving a dime back.

+ eleventy-billion.

[helfer snooterbagon]

As far as I know, there are no tangible perks for donating. If I knew it was going directly to benefit a student in particular need, I would be more apt to donate. The whole process was kind of ham-fisted. I got the call while I was in the middle of an e-mail with a client, the guy sounded bored to tears, certainly did not indicate that he had any connection to Chicago Kent, just sounded like your average telemarketer (fun fact I learned from NPR - telemarketers cannot use automated dialing to call cell phones, they are required by law to dial by hand) .

[09042014]

As long as they are paying a bunch of shit boomers well over six figs to write a bunch of shitpoasting journal articles, nobody should donate.

[NotMyRealName09]

Perhaps it depends on your employment success. See if you can dontate to a scholarship fund directly, I could, and did - nominally.

My Michigan State legal education landed me a great, high paying job in Detroit. They also gave me two free years of full-ride scholarship after I was top of my class 1L year. They took a chance on a student with subpar undergrad grades, who, at first glance, didn't seem destined for success. Someone saw something in me, threw me a bone, and I'm grateful for that.

I give them $30 towards a law review scholarship fund to maybe help someone like me. Cold call solicitation doesn't seem as cool or personal though. You could contact your alum association and ask how your money can go to students directly - I'm sure there is a way.

[dudders]

Is alumni giving reflected in rankings (other than size of the endowment or something)? I remember my undergrad sought really hard to get a huge percentage of graduating students to give SOMETHING.

I have zero desire to fork over money to my school, but I would also prefer not to have them drop in the rankings and make my useless degree even more useless.

[Dany]

I am never donating a penny to a school I attended, unless I'm a millionaire and can name something after myself.

As long as they are paying a bunch of shit boomers well over six figs to write a bunch of shitpoasting journal articles, nobody should donate.

Also, this.

[fatduck]

Is alumni giving reflected in rankings (other than size of the endowment or something)? I remember my undergrad sought really hard to get a huge percentage of graduating students to give SOMETHING.

I have zero desire to fork over money to my school, but I would also prefer not to have them drop in the rankings and make my useless degree even more useless.

prestige fleeing your diploma in DROVES

[prezidentv8]

I'm paying way more than my any degree should cost. No way am I giving a dime back.

+ eleventy-billion.

Edited. Boom.

[prezidentv8]

As long as they are paying a bunch of shit boomers well over six figs to write a bunch of shitpoasting journal articles, nobody should donate.

Also this.

[reasonable_man]

My firm makes a small donation each year to my college and law school in my name so that I get alumni benefits. This is the way to go.

[kalvano]

I just have too many negative feelings associated with my school, which is kind of sad because I like pretty much everyone I go with and some of the profs are amazingly awesome.

But then I try and talk to Career Services or school administration and I want to kick babies.

[reasonable_man]

I just have too many negative feelings associated with my school, which is kind of sad because I like pretty much everyone I go with and some of the profs are amazingly awesome.

But then I try and talk to Career Services or school administration and I want to kick babies.

4 Years later and I still feel that way.

[helfer snooterbagon]

My firm makes a small donation each year to my college and law school in my name so that I get alumni benefits. This is the way to go.

I wish that was an option, however, I work for the Federal Government, unlikely that they would authorize that course of action.

[howell]

You can just say that you aren't giving anything to the school until you have paid off your loans.

About giving to funds that directly benefit students - does that even help? It just seems like a license for law schools to raise tuition even more. So if X students were prepared to pay Y average dollars before a scholarship is offered, then the school will eventually raise its tuition to Y + the scholarship amount. It certainly doesn't work out that cleanly, but it seems like that would be the ultimate effect.

[zozin]

I am never donating a penny to a school I attended, unless I'm a millionaire and can name something after myself.

This. Unless I'm getting something substantial out of it, I don't understanding donating to schools. When you're old and part of the .1% and want to establish your legacy, then sure.

[reasonable_man]

I am never donating a penny to a school I attended, unless I'm a millionaire and can name something after myself.

This. Unless I'm getting something substantial out of it, I don't understanding donating to schools. When you're old and part of the .1% and want to establish your legacy, then sure.

True. I went to a festering TTT or a law school though, so if I'm loaded one day and looking for serious tax write-offs, The Reasonable_man Library would have a pretty nice ring to it... Nice part about the festering TTT LS is that any donation 150K and above would buy you some nice naming rights...

[smittytron3k]

I am never donating a penny to a school I attended, unless I'm a millionaire and can name something after myself.

This. Unless I'm getting something substantial out of it, I don't understanding donating to schools. When you're old and part of the .1% and want to establish your legacy, then sure.

True. I went to a festering TTT or a law school though, so if I'm loaded one day and looking for serious tax write-offs, The Reasonable_man Library would have a pretty nice ring to it... Nice part about the festering TTT LS is that any donation 150K and above would buy you some nice naming rights...

Just as a point of comparison, $100k will buy you a pretty nice bathroom at HLS.

[Danteshek]

I will never donate until my private school publishes the salary and benefits of every faculty member and administrator. I also expect a full and detailed financial report, including the funds that were diverted to support programs at the university.

[ben4847]

I could think of charities that I'd rather give to way sooner than my law school.