Just to circle back to the fundraising issues at JMU, I will share my own story on this issue, which I've tried to avoid for a long time, because I think it's illustrative.

'99 JMU grad. Lived out west from graduation through '02 and was pretty out of touch with JMU. Not their fault, just life. Was broke the whole time so it wouldn't have made a difference. But I came back to Virginia to go to law school at GMU School of Law (GMUSL) from '02-'05. I liked law school generally and made great friends there, but my personal experience with GMUSL's administration was nothing short of horrific and I swore I'd never give a dime to that place. I mean I was really pissed and it was pretty much the opposite of my positive experiences at JMU as an undergrad.

Like many JMU alums of my era, the '04 season was a game-changer and kindled (rekindled would imply we were passionate during the 95-99 years) my interest in JMU sports forever. Went to W&M semi, rented an RV for the Chatty trip, but you've all heard that part before. From '05 on I started going to games regularly and joined the Duke Club w/ Season Tickets in '07 or '08 and have been there ever since. Being involved with JMU Athletics is the ONLY reason I became aware of other needs at JMU that I've taken a position in since then, particularly the Madison Forever Fund when the recession was in high gear and "my own" English Dept. But I've NEVER been solicited by the University at-large since just after I graduated.

Now here is the kicker. GMUSL was relentless. For years I stuck to my guns by consistently throwing the avalanche of mailings into the circular file, often with much cathartic ripping and gusto, and continued to remind callers of my particular aversion to the former Dean Grady and expressed very clearly why I refused to give and repeatedly told them they should stop calling. But, but-but-but, they didn't stop. Ever.

And somewhere along the way I started listening to the pitch - GMUSL had terrible giving percentages in turns of # of alums that donate and just raising that number with any donation, even a small one, would improve their standing. Plus the expertly published "guilt-lists" where they would mail out once or twice a year the list of everyone from my class that WAS donating to everyone in our class in a fancy glossy mailer, which was really a highly effective way of saying exactly what they were not saying - i.e. exactly who wasn't donating in our class.

Made my first donation last year nine years after graduation.

This isn't to tear down anyone in particular at JMU, but just go over to the DC Staff webpage and take a gander at the turnover just in the last couple of years. And yes, the commish's son as the Director of Major Gifts is not a good look. And seeing those guys in their suits sitting awkwardly next to the pep band at the end of last night's game on Stretch made you wonder what they're thinking (which must be something like "I like life in the Valley but I'm going to be sitting here in this dumpy old building watching a cut-rate product forever if I don't find another gig and fast).

But it's way more than that, it's the essence of JMU's non-campaign and the lack of understanding of the long game that just stands in such stark contrast to what's going on elsewhere.

(01-29-2015 04:34 PM)PurpleStreamers Wrote:  Just to circle back to the fundraising issues at JMU, I will share my own story on this issue, which I've tried to avoid for a long time, because I think it's illustrative.

'99 JMU grad. Lived out west from graduation through '02 and was pretty out of touch with JMU. Not their fault, just life. Was broke the whole time so it wouldn't have made a difference. But I came back to Virginia to go to law school at GMU School of Law (GMUSL) from '02-'05. I liked law school generally and made great friends there, but my personal experience with GMUSL's administration was nothing short of horrific and I swore I'd never give a dime to that place. I mean I was really pissed and it was pretty much the opposite of my positive experiences at JMU as an undergrad.

Like many JMU alums of my era, the '04 season was a game-changer and kindled (rekindled would imply we were passionate during the 95-99 years) my interest in JMU sports forever. Went to W&M semi, rented an RV for the Chatty trip, but you've all heard that part before. From '05 on I started going to games regularly and joined the Duke Club w/ Season Tickets in '07 or '08 and have been there ever since. Being involved with JMU Athletics is the ONLY reason I became aware of other needs at JMU that I've taken a position in since then, particularly the Madison Forever Fund when the recession was in high gear and "my own" English Dept. But I've NEVER been solicited by the University at-large since just after I graduated.

Now here is the kicker. GMUSL was relentless. For years I stuck to my guns by consistently throwing the avalanche of mailings into the circular file, often with much cathartic ripping and gusto, and continued to remind callers of my particular aversion to the former Dean Grady and expressed very clearly why I refused to give and repeatedly told them they should stop calling. But, but-but-but, they didn't stop. Ever.

And somewhere along the way I started listening to the pitch - GMUSL had terrible giving percentages in turns of # of alums that donate and just raising that number with any donation, even a small one, would improve their standing. Plus the expertly published "guilt-lists" where they would mail out once or twice a year the list of everyone from my class that WAS donating to everyone in our class in a fancy glossy mailer, which was really a highly effective way of saying exactly what they were not saying - i.e. exactly who wasn't donating in our class.

Made my first donation last year nine years after graduation.

This isn't to tear down anyone in particular at JMU, but just go over to the DC Staff webpage and take a gander at the turnover just in the last couple of years. And yes, the commish's son as the Director of Major Gifts is not a good look. And seeing those guys in their suits sitting awkwardly next to the pep band at the end of last night's game on Stretch made you wonder what they're thinking (which must be something like "I like life in the Valley but I'm going to be sitting here in this dumpy old building watching a cut-rate product forever if I don't find another gig and fast).

But it's way more than that, it's the essence of JMU's non-campaign and the lack of understanding of the long game that just stands in such stark contrast to what's going on elsewhere.

Interesting, thanks.

(01-29-2015 01:24 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 12:51 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 11:20 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  4 out of 5 students* complain that they'll never donate a dime to JMU because they can't get past themselves and see the bigger picture (sounds like some posters on here that we know). "I paid 250 whatever dollars for a parking pass and there's no parking on campus! They'll never get any money from me! I already paid a billion dollars to them for my tuition!" Changing some of that culture would be a good start.



*not an actual statistic i can back up

You're pointing the finger in the wrong direction if you're blaming the students. It is up to JMU admin and staff to create a culture of donating back to the school that starts from the freshman (or transfer) orientation all the way up through graduation and then followed up for the remainder of the graduate's life. For sh¡ts sake, the Christian Children's Fund found a way to fleece millions of Americans for a cup of coffee a day on something they'll never benefit from, why can't JMU?

Great point and why my earlier note about changing our motto to "Give Some Change" was only somewhat in jest. Why couldn't we ask every alumnus out there to donate the 30 cent change from the Starbucks they buy every day? There has to be a way to figure something out like this and make it work in such a fashion where there is nothing the person needs to do.

I'm a grad student at USC and this is what the bookstore does. After each purchase they'll ask "Would you like to donate your change to the ________ Scholarship fund?" So if your total was like 24.47, you would donate the 53 cents to the fund and your total would get rounded up to $25. It's such an easy way to get people thinking about donating, even if it's 50 cents at a time. There's no reason something like this wouldn't work at JMU.

I'm an intern at the Trojan Athletic Club (USC's Duke Club) right now and there are so many things I would love to bring back to JMU to bring that abysmal alumni giving rate up.

(01-29-2015 08:51 PM)JMU2014 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 01:24 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 12:51 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 11:20 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  4 out of 5 students* complain that they'll never donate a dime to JMU because they can't get past themselves and see the bigger picture (sounds like some posters on here that we know). "I paid 250 whatever dollars for a parking pass and there's no parking on campus! They'll never get any money from me! I already paid a billion dollars to them for my tuition!" Changing some of that culture would be a good start.



*not an actual statistic i can back up

You're pointing the finger in the wrong direction if you're blaming the students. It is up to JMU admin and staff to create a culture of donating back to the school that starts from the freshman (or transfer) orientation all the way up through graduation and then followed up for the remainder of the graduate's life. For sh¡ts sake, the Christian Children's Fund found a way to fleece millions of Americans for a cup of coffee a day on something they'll never benefit from, why can't JMU?

Great point and why my earlier note about changing our motto to "Give Some Change" was only somewhat in jest. Why couldn't we ask every alumnus out there to donate the 30 cent change from the Starbucks they buy every day? There has to be a way to figure something out like this and make it work in such a fashion where there is nothing the person needs to do.

I'm a grad student at USC and this is what the bookstore does. After each purchase they'll ask "Would you like to donate your change to the ________ Scholarship fund?" So if your total was like 24.47, you would donate the 53 cents to the fund and your total would get rounded up to $25. It's such an easy way to get people thinking about donating, even if it's 50 cents at a time. There's no reason something like this wouldn't work at JMU.

I'm an intern at the Trojan Athletic Club (USC's Duke Club) right now and there are so many things I would love to bring back to JMU to bring that abysmal alumni giving rate up.

You have to remember that big boy bcs football sells itself too.

embarrassing that our endowment is lower than Lynchburg College among others

(01-29-2015 09:17 PM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  embarrassing that our endowment is lower than Lynchburg College among others

When's the last time you've seen women pay for anything?

(01-29-2015 08:55 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 08:51 PM)JMU2014 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 01:24 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 12:51 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 11:20 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  4 out of 5 students* complain that they'll never donate a dime to JMU because they can't get past themselves and see the bigger picture (sounds like some posters on here that we know). "I paid 250 whatever dollars for a parking pass and there's no parking on campus! They'll never get any money from me! I already paid a billion dollars to them for my tuition!" Changing some of that culture would be a good start.



*not an actual statistic i can back up

You're pointing the finger in the wrong direction if you're blaming the students. It is up to JMU admin and staff to create a culture of donating back to the school that starts from the freshman (or transfer) orientation all the way up through graduation and then followed up for the remainder of the graduate's life. For sh¡ts sake, the Christian Children's Fund found a way to fleece millions of Americans for a cup of coffee a day on something they'll never benefit from, why can't JMU?

Great point and why my earlier note about changing our motto to "Give Some Change" was only somewhat in jest. Why couldn't we ask every alumnus out there to donate the 30 cent change from the Starbucks they buy every day? There has to be a way to figure something out like this and make it work in such a fashion where there is nothing the person needs to do.

I'm a grad student at USC and this is what the bookstore does. After each purchase they'll ask "Would you like to donate your change to the ________ Scholarship fund?" So if your total was like 24.47, you would donate the 53 cents to the fund and your total would get rounded up to $25. It's such an easy way to get people thinking about donating, even if it's 50 cents at a time. There's no reason something like this wouldn't work at JMU.

I'm an intern at the Trojan Athletic Club (USC's Duke Club) right now and there are so many things I would love to bring back to JMU to bring that abysmal alumni giving rate up.

You have to remember that big boy bcs football sells itself too.

Of course it does. But that's not to say some of the things that USC does really well, JMU couldn't do too. JMU could easily set something up at the bookstore that the spare change from purchases can be redirected to the Madison Forever Scholarship or something.

What many posters have noticed and commented on in this thread seems to be a lack of initiative from the top down. Until that changes, we're stuck.

My Jesuit High School also mentions all the givers from each class. It does help in a subtle way. And they also start their lowest offering amount at about 2 rungs higher than JMUs' ( with several levels above our top level too). Helps to have male alumni dating back 190 yrs, a luxury we certainly don't have at JMU.

(01-29-2015 09:25 PM)JMU2014 Wrote:  Of course it does. But that's not to say some of the things that USC does really well, JMU couldn't do too. JMU could easily set something up at the bookstore that the spare change from purchases can be redirected to the Madison Forever Scholarship or something.

What many posters have noticed and commented on in this thread seems to be a lack of initiative from the top down. Until that changes, we're stuck.

I agree that the problem is more on the school than the donor. Give us real, concrete reasons both academically and athletically to donate and it's much easier to sell the product. It's just not fair to compare us to a bcs school with a championship history. It's not even close.
The 50 cents change model will work simply because it's more than zero. A person here and there will still add up.
We're the top revenue Fcs school nationally, including student fees of course. We're second or third in attendance for five years. We have Duke club donor amounts higher than many G5 schools and more attendance than many too. We're a top 100 program nationally.
JMU has many great things that we often overlook as fans. We're so passionate we want to always progress at the speed of light.

Kirk cox has an axe to grind with JMU
This appears personal

(01-29-2015 10:12 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  Kirk cox has an axe to grind with JMU
This appears personal

I agree. Talked with his former fraternity members and they mentioned he won't even return their calls.

(01-29-2015 10:12 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  Kirk cox has an axe to grind with JMU
This appears personal

The guy was a school teacher. Nothing against that, but I'm not sure how that qualifies you as a politician. That being said, I can't say I disagree with much of what he says. He makes some good points. What the hell are we spending so much money on? I know we have to spend a lot on the women's programs to comply with title IX (which is a crock of ****), but we have to figure out how to reel it in and/or create more revenue and donations. Keep scheduling Morehead State and Alcorn State, forget about revenue.

Cox states, "JMU relies on students to pick up 75% of the cost of its fairly expensive athletics program."

Scholarships are the biggest cost to the athletic departments.

State as cut Support to 12% of the cost of tuition.

Cutting support requires raising student fees.

It seems that the continuing loss of state support is the one biggest reason for the 60% rise in student fees.

Therefore if the state had continued to support higher education, student fees for athletics would not have risen the 60% Cox talks about.

(01-29-2015 10:31 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 10:12 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  Kirk cox has an axe to grind with JMU
This appears personal

The guy was a school teacher. Nothing against that, but I'm not sure how that qualifies you as a politician. That being said, I can't say I disagree with much of what he says. He makes some good points. What the hell are we spending so much money on? I know we have to spend a lot on the women's programs to comply with title IX (which is a crock of ****), but we have to figure out how to reel it in and/or create more revenue and donations. Keep scheduling Morehead State and Alcorn State, forget about revenue.

Ugh. He taught high school govt for many years. I'd say he's about as qualified as anyone. But I agree that many of his points are reasonable, although it's pretty easy to poke holes in some of the specific methodology being used. Sometimes (most times?) politicians are more interested in the headline generated than they are in the details of what is actually accomplished. The headlines for this legislation have already been written. I would expect that JMU and other schools would have success down the road in getting necessary amendments so that they can accomplish whatever they think they need to accomplish, within reason.

We all know he's reading this, and teaching high school government does not exactly impress me. I've seen it.

What's the best occupation to precede a career as a slimy politician?

Just an fyi. assuming that this were to result in only a straight cut in the student fee and the athletic budget, this bill will be saving a JMU student a whopping $148 a year.
Damn, he's really making a difference in those student loan payments!

(01-30-2015 06:56 AM)Potomac Wrote:  Just an fyi. assuming that this were to result in only a straight cut in the student fee and the athletic budget, this bill will be saving a JMU student a whopping $148 a year.
Damn, he's really making a difference in those student loan payments!

but it sounds so so so so good.

And our out of pocket all in to the student is way lower than most va schools

Jmu is and will remain a good deal

honest question. Anyone on here have any knowledge of the inner workings of the way development is run? sounds like everybody knows someone who's never been contacted about giving ever since they left JMU. On the other hand there's those of us who give and still get contacted about giving too. So, what are some real world factors that account for people being left off the list after graduation? Is it bad contact information, the cost of mailings, poor information systems, not enough people to make the phone calls, etc. I mean, if the system is broke, and it seems that there is room for improvement, what needs to change?