(03-31-2015 11:13 AM)interwebowl Wrote:  I doubled mine from last year, but I want to point out that one of the reasons the owl club has struggled is that is is not seen as supporting all sports fairly. Was there something in that letter Mike wrote that talked about support for anything other than football?

Huh? Where in Mike's "letter" did it say anything about football? The Owl Club supports ALL Rice sports and student-athletes. It is NOT focused more on football than any of the other sports.

(03-31-2015 01:12 PM)interwebowl Wrote:  In addition to the Athletic Departments efforts, the University has recently stepped up in a big way to support the effort to elevate Rice Athletics. The University contributed approximately $2,000,000 to the new Patterson Sports Performance Center in the north end zone of Rice Stadium and in excess of $1,000,000 for new field turf, end zone tarps, and increased coaching salaries to retain our key assistants.

All of these are football expenses.

This didn't come from the Owl Club. The University ponied up for football.

What's the answer? You even know.

(03-30-2015 10:21 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 09:06 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  Yea ridiculous. How many foreign students give to the Owl Club?

(03-30-2015 07:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Here's some additional information Mike just sent me...

Quote:Biggest focus for us this year is to get participation rate up. Owl Club is at approximately 5% (Athletes, Trainers, Managers, Cheer, Dance) while Annual Fund is at 30% (University wide). The Annual Fund has done a great job getting a large percentage of the alumni base involved and we are working to match their success. Their number is not only higher, it is on a larger population.

The 5% participation rate is nothing short of embarrassing. I was astonished when Josh Thiel told me last month that well under 1,000 donors contribute annually to the Owl Club. That's just insane and shameful. Again, any amount given counts against the participation rate; you don't have to give at the minimal level that will provide you with benefits. Surely, every one on this Board, even the young Alums, can afford $25 in support of Rice athletics.

Geez, will you stop already with the foreign student rant. If only about 850 are giving annually to the Owl Club, there are an awful lot of season ticketholders (from all our various sports) and so-called Rice sports fans who are not giving. Stop blaming everthing about Rice athletics on our foreign students.

(03-31-2015 01:12 PM)interwebowl Wrote:  In addition to the Athletic Departments efforts, the University has recently stepped up in a big way to support the effort to elevate Rice Athletics. The University contributed approximately $2,000,000 to the new Patterson Sports Performance Center in the north end zone of Rice Stadium and in excess of $1,000,000 for new field turf, end zone tarps, and increased coaching salaries to retain our key assistants.

All of these are football expenses.

And they have nothing to do with the Owl Club. Reread again-- these are two areas the University provided incremental funding; not the Owl Club, which supports equally all Rice student-athletes.

(03-31-2015 03:12 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  What's the answer? You even know.

It is irrelevant. Now: repeat

(03-31-2015 04:04 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(03-31-2015 03:12 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  What's the answer? You even know.

It is irrelevant. Now: repeat

Well done, sir. Touche!

(03-31-2015 04:04 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(03-31-2015 03:12 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  What's the answer? You even know.

It is irrelevant. Now: repeat

No Antarius, don't make it so easy. I want OldOwl to say exactly what he means by asking that singular question, which actually none of us know the answer.

If in fact, one wants to gain insight into the Owl Club donor base, then other relevant questions to ask that we also do not know the answers for, would be:
1) How many donors were non-athletes?
2) How many donors were engineers vs academs?
3) How many donors > 30 years old vs under 30?
4) How many donors live in Texas vs currently reside out of state?
5) How many donors are men vs women?

All of these may be relevant questions if being asked in the context of analysis and strategy planning for increasing participation. Unfortunately, based on what I have heard from Tanner and JK, in prior years, no one had a handle this information, including the Athletic dept. Luckily that has changed under the new regime and I am glad to see the Athletic dept applying some business intelligence towards solving this problem.

(03-31-2015 06:31 PM)owl95 Wrote:  

(03-31-2015 04:04 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(03-31-2015 03:12 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  What's the answer? You even know.

It is irrelevant. Now: repeat

No Antarius, don't make it so easy. I want OldOwl to say exactly what he means by asking that singular question, which actually none of us know the answer.

If in fact, one wants to gain insight into the Owl Club donor base, then other relevant questions to ask that we also do not know the answers for, would be:
1) How many donors were non-athletes?
2) How many donors were engineers vs academs?
3) How many donors > 30 years old vs under 30?
4) How many donors live in Texas vs currently reside out of state?
5) How many donors are men vs women?

All of these may be relevant questions if being asked in the context of analysis and strategy planning for increasing participation. Unfortunately, based on what I have heard from Tanner and JK, in prior years, no one had a handle this information, including the Athletic dept. Luckily that has changed under the new regime and I am glad to see the Athletic dept applying some business intelligence towards solving this problem.

Here's a start...

1) non
2) engr
3) >>30
4) TX
5) male

And I wasn't an international student, but I travel extensively internationally.

Your welcome!

Here's some facts from the 2014 Report:

Total Owl Club Dollars raised: $1,509,867
854 Donors
$1,023,448 from all Alumni 588 households
$625,426 from 285 Letterwinner Households

So some quick math - ~$500,000 comes from non-alumni
Letterwinners provide ~65% of all Alumni donations despite being 48% of the alumni donor base.

Some summary info I put together from the report:

Hope this helps.

edit: I do not have access to a database with every graduate of all time with their hometown, so I can't quite help out with the demograpghics question.

I must be misunderstanding. Are you saying that 48% of all Rice alumni are letterwinners?

I would guess the current student body is at around 10% varsity athletes.

I edited the post. 48% of the Owl Club donors that are alumni

Thanks Lou, got it. So on average, letterwinner donors give about twice as much as non-letterwinner donors.

Average donor gift based on these numbers:

Letterwinner: ~$2200
Non-letterwinner Alumni ~$1300
Non-alumni ~$1800

Note that these averages aren't that useful in practice. One of the $50k+ donor's annual donation could eclipse all 338 donors below the $500 level. I think the biggest thing about these numbers is how small the base is.

(04-01-2015 02:01 PM)lou Wrote:  Note that these averages aren't that useful in practice.

This is probably one of those cases where medians are a lot more informative than means.

(04-01-2015 02:01 PM)lou Wrote:  
I think the biggest thing about these numbers is how small the base is.

Exactly!

One of the things I have talked about with the folks in the AD office is the need for the Owl Club to return to having an Executive Director whose task is not only to raise funds but to provide opportunities for Owl Club members to "meet and greet".

The boost in donations to the Owl Club started when Jim Harris was named as the first Executive Director. After Jim left John Greer continued his work but since that time less and less focus was placed on the social aspect of the Owl Club. Quite a few non alum fans/donors got their start by going to Owl Club functions such as the QB and RBI club. It was a way where these new fan/donors had a chance to become part of the University. Besides the Coaches Meetings the Owl Club used to sponsor trips to away games. During the WAC years trips were made to BYU, Air Force, and New Mexico . Flights to the game on commercial airlines, hotel accommodations, and often a dinner was part of the package. During the BYU trip the Owl fans got to have dinner at Robert Redford's restaurant at the Sundance Mountain Resort.

My description of the Owl Club these days is an organization that is primarily a "money drop". The R room availability during football games is just about the only social function that is still provided. Just as the response to Mike's FB post has shown connecting folks with an interest in Rice athletics can lead to new members to the Owl Club and an increase in donations from current members.

(04-02-2015 06:52 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  One of the things I have talked about with the folks in the AD office is the need for the Owl Club to return to having an Executive Director whose task is not only to raise funds but to provide opportunities for Owl Club members to "meet and greet".

The boost in donations to the Owl Club started when Jim Harris was named as the first Executive Director. After Jim left John Greer continued his work but since that time less and less focus was placed on the social aspect of the Owl Club. Quite a few non alum fans/donors got their start by going to Owl Club functions such as the QB and RBI club. It was a way where these new fan/donors had a chance to become part of the University. Besides the Coaches Meetings the Owl Club used to sponsor trips to away games. During the WAC years trips were made to BYU, Air Force, and New Mexico . Flights to the game on commercial airlines, hotel accommodations, and often a dinner was part of the package. During the BYU trip the Owl fans got to have dinner at Robert Redford's restaurant at the Sundance Mountain Resort.

My description of the Owl Club these days is an organization that is primarily a "money drop". The R room availability during football games is just about the only social function that is still provided. Just as the response to Mike's FB post has shown connecting folks with an interest in Rice athletics can lead to new members to the Owl Club and an increase in donations from current members.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Owl Club was responsible for organizing a pretty spectacular chartered trip to South Bend and hosted a great pre-game at the West Point Club (among other pre-games) against Army. Bowl functions hosted by the Owl Club have been great. I get emails for meet and greet opportunities such as (most recently) the signing day lunch/ground breaking ceremony all the time. I think a lot of those "perks" still exist. But no doubt awareness of the Owl Club and its mission is poor.

At any rate I think we need to understand that for the first time the lines of communication between the AD and the Administration are wide open. They have communicated that if we can demonstrate increased support as measured by Owl Club funding and participation, the University will increase its support - of all sports. The main "perk" in this is that we get to make a run at staying alive as a legitimate sports program. I understand that some have shunned the Owl Club in favor of direct support of certain programs, or real or perceived slights --- but this is the measuring stick Joe and his team are using to prove our support so bury your grievances and at least get on the radar screen.

And, thanks to Mike and Tom for leading this. Those guys don't have a lot of time on their hands, and have no reason other than love for the Owls (of all sports) for leading this charge.

(04-02-2015 07:49 AM)mebehutchi Wrote:  

(04-02-2015 06:52 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  One of the things I have talked about with the folks in the AD office is the need for the Owl Club to return to having an Executive Director whose task is not only to raise funds but to provide opportunities for Owl Club members to "meet and greet".

The boost in donations to the Owl Club started when Jim Harris was named as the first Executive Director. After Jim left John Greer continued his work but since that time less and less focus was placed on the social aspect of the Owl Club. Quite a few non alum fans/donors got their start by going to Owl Club functions such as the QB and RBI club. It was a way where these new fan/donors had a chance to become part of the University. Besides the Coaches Meetings the Owl Club used to sponsor trips to away games. During the WAC years trips were made to BYU, Air Force, and New Mexico . Flights to the game on commercial airlines, hotel accommodations, and often a dinner was part of the package. During the BYU trip the Owl fans got to have dinner at Robert Redford's restaurant at the Sundance Mountain Resort.

My description of the Owl Club these days is an organization that is primarily a "money drop". The R room availability during football games is just about the only social function that is still provided. Just as the response to Mike's FB post has shown connecting folks with an interest in Rice athletics can lead to new members to the Owl Club and an increase in donations from current members.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Owl Club was responsible for organizing a pretty spectacular chartered trip to South Bend and hosted a great pre-game at the West Point Club (among other pre-games) against Army. Bowl functions hosted by the Owl Club have been great. I get emails for meet and greet opportunities such as (most recently) the signing day lunch/ground breaking ceremony all the time. I think a lot of those "perks" still exist. But no doubt awareness of the Owl Club and its mission is poor.

At any rate I think we need to understand that for the first time the lines of communication between the AD and the Administration are wide open. They have communicated that if we can demonstrate increased support as measured by Owl Club funding and participation, the University will increase its support - of all sports. The main "perk" in this is that we get to make a run at staying alive as a legitimate sports program. I understand that some have shunned the Owl Club in favor of direct support of certain programs, or real or perceived slights --- but this is the measuring stick Joe and his team are using to prove our support so bury your grievances and at least get on the radar screen.

And, thanks to Mike and Tom for leading this. Those guys don't have a lot of time on their hands, and have no reason other than love for the Owls (of all sports) for leading this charge.

1. I believe it was the Athletic Department (and not the Owl Club specifically) in concert with the ARA that sponsored the Notre Dame trip, the West Point tailgate and the various bowl parties.

2. I was one of those, under Greenspan, who cut back significantly on my Owl Club gift (though I continued to give the minimum benefit-earning annual contribution) in favor of increased gifting to the RBI Club. Since Dr. K arrived, and I've developed an open dialogue with him and others in the AD, I've stepped up my Owl Club giving while continue to give at the highest RBI Club level (as well as gifting women's tennis and men's basketball). My financial support goes to those programs that have either achieved the excellence of the University itself or have shown signs, IMO-- and effort-- towards such a level of excellence. And I've made it very clear to those in charge the basis behind my giving.

(04-02-2015 08:37 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-02-2015 07:49 AM)mebehutchi Wrote:  

(04-02-2015 06:52 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  One of the things I have talked about with the folks in the AD office is the need for the Owl Club to return to having an Executive Director whose task is not only to raise funds but to provide opportunities for Owl Club members to "meet and greet".

The boost in donations to the Owl Club started when Jim Harris was named as the first Executive Director. After Jim left John Greer continued his work but since that time less and less focus was placed on the social aspect of the Owl Club. Quite a few non alum fans/donors got their start by going to Owl Club functions such as the QB and RBI club. It was a way where these new fan/donors had a chance to become part of the University. Besides the Coaches Meetings the Owl Club used to sponsor trips to away games. During the WAC years trips were made to BYU, Air Force, and New Mexico . Flights to the game on commercial airlines, hotel accommodations, and often a dinner was part of the package. During the BYU trip the Owl fans got to have dinner at Robert Redford's restaurant at the Sundance Mountain Resort.

My description of the Owl Club these days is an organization that is primarily a "money drop". The R room availability during football games is just about the only social function that is still provided. Just as the response to Mike's FB post has shown connecting folks with an interest in Rice athletics can lead to new members to the Owl Club and an increase in donations from current members.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Owl Club was responsible for organizing a pretty spectacular chartered trip to South Bend and hosted a great pre-game at the West Point Club (among other pre-games) against Army. Bowl functions hosted by the Owl Club have been great. I get emails for meet and greet opportunities such as (most recently) the signing day lunch/ground breaking ceremony all the time. I think a lot of those "perks" still exist. But no doubt awareness of the Owl Club and its mission is poor.

At any rate I think we need to understand that for the first time the lines of communication between the AD and the Administration are wide open. They have communicated that if we can demonstrate increased support as measured by Owl Club funding and participation, the University will increase its support - of all sports. The main "perk" in this is that we get to make a run at staying alive as a legitimate sports program. I understand that some have shunned the Owl Club in favor of direct support of certain programs, or real or perceived slights --- but this is the measuring stick Joe and his team are using to prove our support so bury your grievances and at least get on the radar screen.

And, thanks to Mike and Tom for leading this. Those guys don't have a lot of time on their hands, and have no reason other than love for the Owls (of all sports) for leading this charge.

1. I believe it was the Athletic Department (and not the Owl Club specifically) in concert with the ARA that sponsored the Notre Dame trip, the West Point tailgate and the various bowl parties.

2. I was one of those, under Greenspan, who cut back significantly on my Owl Club gift (though I continued to give the minimum benefit-earning annual contribution) in favor of increased gifting to the RBI Club. Since Dr. K arrived, and I've developed an open dialogue with him and others in the AD, I've stepped up my Owl Club giving while continue to give at the highest RBI Club level (as well as gifting women's tennis and men's basketball). My financial support goes to those programs that have either achieved the excellence of the University itself or have shown signs, IMO-- and effort-- towards such a level of excellence. And I've made it very clear those in charge the basis behind my giving.

1. To some extent maybe a matter of semantics and maybe another Owl Club identity problem? When are people in the AD Development Office working on behalf of the AD or the Owl Club? My impression was that if we lost money on the Notre Dame trip it would hit the Owl Club budget (although they do all kinda run together eventually) and it was the Owl Club that sanctioned taking the risk. I know the Club organized if not hosted the bowl events. Nevertheless, another "perk" of being an Owl Club member is you get first look at a trip like this, road game tickets etc. Hardly just a money drop.

Maybe we can get Walt's initial post bumped up top so we can follow along with fund raising? It's kind of central to our well being, and would hopefully keep the effort from being a more than one-time social media flare.

Excellent point Tiki. I remember the Owl Club would actually have a nice meal before the football games instead of just chips and sandwiches. It needs to be not only for raising money but also a social event. It should be active all year long also. I would love to hear all the coaches talk about what is going on in their sport, not just football. This has not been done yet. I think there is so many things that can be done to grow the Owl Club.

(04-02-2015 06:52 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  One of the things I have talked about with the folks in the AD office is the need for the Owl Club to return to having an Executive Director whose task is not only to raise funds but to provide opportunities for Owl Club members to "meet and greet".

The boost in donations to the Owl Club started when Jim Harris was named as the first Executive Director. After Jim left John Greer continued his work but since that time less and less focus was placed on the social aspect of the Owl Club. Quite a few non alum fans/donors got their start by going to Owl Club functions such as the QB and RBI club. It was a way where these new fan/donors had a chance to become part of the University. Besides the Coaches Meetings the Owl Club used to sponsor trips to away games. During the WAC years trips were made to BYU, Air Force, and New Mexico . Flights to the game on commercial airlines, hotel accommodations, and often a dinner was part of the package. During the BYU trip the Owl fans got to have dinner at Robert Redford's restaurant at the Sundance Mountain Resort.

My description of the Owl Club these days is an organization that is primarily a "money drop". The R room availability during football games is just about the only social function that is still provided. Just as the response to Mike's FB post has shown connecting folks with an interest in Rice athletics can lead to new members to the Owl Club and an increase in donations from current members.

Question - is the Owl Club a "registered charity" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act? That is the criteria to get matching from my new firm.