A program created at UNM aims to increase donations from alumni who graduated with bachelor's degrees.
The Cherry & Silver Society will require members to make their first donation within 18 months after they receive their degree, said Amy Marks, associate director of Annual Giving for the UNM Foundation and Development Office.
She said UNM's ranking of alumni relations in US News and World Report is 9.67 percent of graduates. This only includes bachelor's degree recipients, however, and people who graduate with master's degrees and doctorate degrees are more likely to donate, she said.
"That percentage game is a tough one to play," Marks said. "There are more and more people graduating that aren't in a place to give substantial gifts."
Peer universities, such as the University of Oklahoma, have alumni relations rankings of about 16 percent, Marks said.
"We have a goal of raising our numbers to 16 percent by 2008," she said. "But we really still want to focus on increasing participation."
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Marks said many alumni she speaks with say they already give to UNM by paying tuition or their taxes because the University is a state school.
But according to the Budget Office's Web site, only 17.4 percent of operational funds are provided by state appropriations, and tuition and fees account for 6.7 percent. The biggest funding comes from sales and services, which accounts for 36.2 percent of the operational budget.
These numbers relate to UNM's total budget, including UNM Hospital, Health Sciences and branch campuses. Main campus makes up only 34.3 percent of the University's expenditure.
"While we certainly couldn't continue to operate without the assistance of the state or the revenue from tuition and fees, the cost of higher education is much more than those two sources can provide," Marks said.
Senior Chris Hamilton said the program is a good idea, but he doesn't think it's plausible for most students graduating with bachelor's degrees to contribute to the University.
"People usually don't have a lot of money when they graduate," he said.
Marks agreed with Hamilton and said the society isn't about the dollar amount associated with the gift.
"We encourage alumni to join with a gift they can afford and ask that they consider increasing their giving later on down the road," she said.
So far, Marks said, the average gift of a new Cherry & Silver Society member has been about $25.
Marks said about 11,600 alumni gifts were made to the University in 2004.
Another program established by University Libraries is also working to increase alumni participation. With a $100 donation, a library book will be purchased in the alumni's name.
Marks said this program can overlap with the Cherry & Silver Society and doesn't have to be donated by a graduate.
"If your aunt makes a $100 Graduate with Honor Gift to the libraries, then that same gift could also count as your establishing gift in the Cherry and Silver Society," Marks said.
A placard with the graduate's name will be placed in the book purchased with the donation money, she said.
UNM alumna Andrea Cavallo said she hasn't donated to the University. The level of education received isn't high enough to tempt students to donate, she said.
She said there also needs to be better incentives for graduates to make donations.
"I'm not sure what, but they need to be honored more than just a name in a book," she said.
Marks said being a part of a program like the Cherry & Silver Society is more than just giving gifts.
"The alumni count," she said. "They need to know their opinions and experiences count and matter to the UNM community."
