The Anatomy of a Likely Donor: Econometric Evidence on Philanthropy to Higher Education

Colorado College Working Paper No. 2008-05

27 Pages Posted: 8 Jul 2008

See all articles by Christen Lara

Christen Lara

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business

Daniel K. N. Johnson

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business; NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Date Written: July 8, 2008

Abstract

In 2006, philanthropic giving to higher education institutions totaled $28 billion, with the top school receiving just under a billion dollars. Roughly fifteen percent of those funds came from alumni donations. This paper builds upon existing economic models to create an econometric model predicting the ever-more important pattern of alumni giving. We test the model using data from over 22,000 alumni at a private liberal arts college, and report on the probable profiles for annual fund donors and alumni willing and able to give major gifts.

Keywords: philanthropy, alum, donations, education financing

JEL Classification: I22, Z13

Suggested Citation

Lara, Christen and Johnson, Daniel Kent Neil, The Anatomy of a Likely Donor: Econometric Evidence on Philanthropy to Higher Education (July 8, 2008). Colorado College Working Paper No. 2008-05, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1157052 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1157052

Christen Lara

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business ( email )

14 E Cache La Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
United States

Daniel Kent Neil Johnson (Contact Author)

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business ( email )

14 E Cache La Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
United States
719-389-6654 (Phone)
719-389-6927 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://faculty1.coloradocollege.edu/~djohnson

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund ( email )

40 Rector St.
5th Floor
New York, NY 10006
United States

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