Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Recasting College Outreach Approaches to Engage African-American Alumni

  • ARTICLES
  • Published:
Journal of African American Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Approaches to African-American alumni outreach efforts will be explored to reveal the impact on participation and giving rates. Also, this article provides an authentic case study that will reveal how one institution through its outreach efforts connected with African-American alumni. In conclusion, recommendations are offered for both academic and student affairs administrators who seek to create outreach initiatives that will engage African-American alumni and encourage them to remain lifelong contributors to the institution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, W. R., Epps, E. G., & Haniff, N. Z. (Eds.). (1991). College in Black and White: African American students in predominantly white and in historically Black public universities. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amos, A. (1995). Going the distance: how to give your special interest groups the tools for long term success. Currents, 21(3), 8–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anft, M. & Lipman, H. (2003). How Americans give: chronicle study finds that race is a powerful influence. The Chronicle of Philanthropy from http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v15/i14/14000601.htm.

  • Baade, R. A., & Sundberg, J. O. (1996). Fourth down and gold to go? Assessing the link between athletics and alumni giving. Social Science Quarterly, 77(4), 789–803.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, A. (1995). Welcome back: a volunteer tells how to get minority alumni interested, inspired, and involved. Currents, 21(3), 56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, S. L. (1989). Alumni as advocates for your institution. In C. H. Webb (Ed.), Handbook for alumni administrators. New York: American Council on Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonner, F. A., II, & Bailey, K. W. (2006). Enhancing the academic climate for African-American men. In M. J. Cuyjet (Ed.), African-American men in college (pp. 24–46). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brubacher, J. S., & Rudy, W. (1976). Higher education in transition: a history of American colleges and universities, 1636-1976 (3rd revised ed.). New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brubacher, J. S., & Rudy, W. (1997). Higher education in transition: a history of colleges and universities (3rd ed.). New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burley, H., Butner, B., Causey-Bush, T., & Bush, V. (2007). African American alumni feelings of attachment to a predominately White research intensive university. College Student Journal, 41(1), 203–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrd, K. (1999). Alumni donations lag at black schools: Funding has increased, but trails gifts at white colleges. Philanthropy News Digest from http://fdncenter.org/pnd/archives/19990601/002724.html.

  • Caboni, T. C. (2003). Organizational identification and voluntary support of higher education. Portland, OR: Paper presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education annual meeting.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, R. T. (2006). Black college alumni giving: A study of the perceptions , attitudes , and giving behaviors of alumni donors at selected historically black colleges and universities , Retrieved December 14, 2012, from ProQuest Information and Learning Company http://www.lib.umi.com/dissertations/search.

  • Connolly, M. S., & Blanchette, R. (1986). Understanding and predicting alumni giving behavior. In J. A. Dunn Jr. (Ed.), Enhancing the management of fundraising. New directions for institutional research, no. 51 (pp. 69–80). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drezner, N. (2006). Establishing a culture of giving through the United Negro College Fund’s national pre-alumni council. Conference papers— 1.

  • Fliegler, C. M. (2006). Engaging alumni online [Electronic version]. University Business, 64-68.

  • Fundraising. (2010). ASHE. Higher Education Report, 35(5), 55–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996). Educational research: an introduction (6th ed.). New York: Longman.

  • Garland, P., & Grace, T. (1994). New perspectives for student affairs professionals: evolving realities, responsibilities, and roles (ED No. 370 507). Washington, DC: George Washington University, ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasman, M. (2002a). An untapped resource: bringing African Americans into the college and university giving process. The CASE International Journal of Educational Advancement, 2(3), 280–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasman, M. (2002b). W. E. B. Du Bois and Charles S. Johnson: Opposing views on philanthropic support for Black higher education. History of Education Quarterly, 42(4), 493–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasman, M. (2006). Black colleges must tap alumni support. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 23(11), 110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasman, M., & Drezner, N. (2008). White corporate philanthropy and its support of private black colleges in the 1960s and 70s. International Journal of Educational Advancement, 8(2).

  • Gasman, M., & Drezner, N. (2009). A Maverick in the Field: fundraising for change in the Black college community during the 1970s. History of Education Quarterly, 49(4).

  • Gunsalus, R. (2004). The relationship o f institutional characteristics and giving participation rates of alumni. International Journal of Education al Advancement, 5(2), 162–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall-Russell, C., & Kasburg, R. H. (1997). African American traditions of giving and serving: a Midwest perspective. Indianapolis, IN: Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

  • Harrison, W., Mitchell, S., & Peterson, S. (1995). Alumni donations and colleges’ development expenditures: does spending matter? American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 54(1), 397–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloman, D. B., Gasman, M., & Anderson-Thompkins, S. (2003). Motivations for philanthropic giving in the African American church: Implications for black college fundraising. Journal of Research on Christian Education, 12(2), 137–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, C., & Turner, S. E. (2004). Legacies in black and white: the racial composition of the legacy pool. Research in Higher Education, 45(4), 325–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, E. (2004). African American philanthropy: a legacy of giving (The Twenty-First Century Foundation for the Coalition for New Philanthropy). New York, NY

  • Hurtado, S., Milem, J., Clayton-Pederson, A., and Allen, W. (1999). Enacting diverse learning environments: improving the climate for racial/ethnic diversity in higher education. (8). Washington, D.C. The George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

  • Jablonski, M. R. (1999). Collaboration between student affairs and alumni relations. In J. A. Feudo (Ed.), Alumni relations: a newcomer’s guide to success. Washington, DC: CASE.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, E. H., Sexton, E. L., & Rhatigan, J. J. (2010). Balancing fundraising in academic programs and intercollegiate athletics. New Directions for Higher Education, 149, 65–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kushner, A. B. (2008). See Y\you at reunion. Or maybe not. Newsweek, 151(24), 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langley, J. M. (2010). Listening–really listening–to alumni. Chronicle of Higher Education, 56(41), A26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, C. (1996). Mission and goals: what are colleges and universities for? In Crisis in the academy: rethinking American higher education. New York: St. Martin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, C. (2006). American higher education: a history (2nd ed.). Hampshire: Palgrave-Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maykut, P., & Morehouse, R. (1994). Beginning qualitative research: a philosophic and practical guide. London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misek, M. (2004). Creating a new comfort zone. (Council for Advancement and Support of Education).

  • Moser, K (2008). As campuses become more diverse, colleges must alter fund-raising approaches, report says. http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/05/2838n.htm.

  • Newman, M. D., & Petrosko, J. M. (2011). Predictors of alumni association membership. Research in Higher Education, 52(7), 738–759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noftsinger, J. B., & Newbold, K. F. (2007). Historical underpinnings of access to American higher education. New Directions for Higher Education, 2007, 3–18. doi:10.1002/he.250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton, L. (Ed.). (2010). Culture centers in higher education: perspectives on identity, theory and practice. Sterling: Stylus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, C. D. (2005). A comparison between African-American and white students enrolled in an equal-opportunity program on predominantly White college campuses: perceptions of the campus environment. College Student Journal, 39(2), 298–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranbom, S., & Lynch, J. (1988). Timeline: the long road to educational equality. Educational Record, 69(1), 16–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rissmeyer, P. A. (2010). Student affairs and alumni relations. New Directions for Student Services, 130, 19–29. doi:10.1002/ss.357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roach, R. (1999). The importance of giving Black. Black Issues in Higher Education, 16(1), 40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, C. F., & Williams, L. R. (2010). Remembrances in Black: personal perspectives of the African American experience at the University of Arkansas, 1940s-2000s. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, F. (1962). The American college & university. Athens: The University of Georgia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, F. (1990). The American college and university: a history. Athens: University of Georgia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwitzer, A. M., Griffin, O. T., Ancis, J. R., & Thomas, C. R. (1999). Social adjustment experiences of African American college students. Journal of Counseling & Development, 77(2), 189–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigelman, L., & Carter, R. (1979). Win one for the giver? Alumni giving and big-time college sports. Social Science Quarterly, 60, 284–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, T. S., & Hughey, A. W. (2002). The role of the alumni association in student life. New Directions for Student Services, 2002, 51–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevick T. (2010). Integrating development, alumni relations, and marketing for fundraising success. New directions for higher education [serial online]. Spring2010 (149):57-64.

  • Stuart, R. (2009). Reinventing alumni associations. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 26(12), 13–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stutler, D., & Calvario, D. (1996). In alumni support, satisfaction matters. Fundraising Management, 27(9), 12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, A. L., & Martin, J. C. (1995). Characteristics of alumni donors and nondonors at a research I, pubic university. Research in Higher Education, 36, 283–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thelin, J. R. (2004). A history of American higher education. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, T. R., & Blader, S. (2000). Cooperation in groups: procedural justice, social identity, and behavioral engagement. Philadelphia: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, T. R., & Blader, S. (2003). Procedural justice, social identity, and cooperative behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 7, 349–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volkwein, J. F., Webster-Saft, L., Xu, W., & Agrotes, M. H. (1989). A model of alumni gift-giving behavior. Baltimore: Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Institutional Research. ERIC ED308761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, L. W., Wright, D., Terrell, M., & Associates. (2002). How minority students experience college: implications for policy and practice. Sterling: Stylus Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weerts, D. J. (1998). Back on track: seven strategies to get your alumni board moving again. CASE Currents, 24, 35–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M. (2008). Characteristics of alumni donors who volunteer at their alma mater. Research in Higher Education, 49(3).

  • Weerts, D. J., & Ronca, J. M. (2009). Using classification trees to predict alumni giving for higher education. Education Economics, 17(1), 95–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wunnava, P. W., & Lauze, M. A. (2001). Alumni giving at a small liberal arts college: evidence from consistent and occasional donors. Economics of Education Review, 20, 533–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R.K. (2008). (4th ed.), SAGE Publications Inc.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fred Bonner II.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williams, L., Bonner, F., Monts, A. et al. Recasting College Outreach Approaches to Engage African-American Alumni. J Afr Am St 18, 417–431 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-014-9279-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-014-9279-4

Keywords

Navigation