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The anatomy of a likely donor: econometric evidence on philanthropy to higher education

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  • Christen Lara
  • Daniel Johnson

Abstract

In 2011, philanthropic giving to higher education institutions totaled $30.3 billion, an 8.2% increase over the previous year. Roughly, 26% of those funds came from alumni donations. This article builds upon existing economic models to create an econometric model to explain and predict the pattern of alumni giving. We test the model using data from over 27,000 alumni at a private liberal arts college, and report on the probable profiles for annual fund donors.

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  • Christen Lara & Daniel Johnson, 2014. "The anatomy of a likely donor: econometric evidence on philanthropy to higher education," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 293-304, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:22:y:2014:i:3:p:293-304
    DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2013.766672
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    2. Ilda Maria Pedro & Júlio Costa Mendes & Luís Nobre Pereira, 2020. "Identifying patterns of alumni commitment in key strategic relationship programmes," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 17(4), pages 445-468, December.
    3. João R. Faria & Franklin G. Mixon, 2018. "Entrepreneurial Philanthropy and University Creation: An Economic Model," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 9(3), pages 1067-1086, September.
    4. Donald G. Gardner & Jon L. Pierce, 2022. "The Psychology of Financial Giving: Values Congruence and Normative Organizational Commitment as Predictors of Alumni Monetary Donations to Higher Education," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Jonathan Meer & Harvey S. Rosen, 2009. "Family Bonding with Universities," NBER Working Papers 15493, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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