Date of Award

Fall 2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Jennifer Carter

Second Advisor

Dr. Thomas Gollery

Third Advisor

Dr. Dottie Weigel

Abstract

Alumni giving is a critical revenue stream for Christian liberal arts colleges that originated as Bible institutions. This dissertation includes an in-depth case study of the patterns and determinants of alumni donations, focusing on the transition from Bible colleges to liberal arts institutions and the subsequent impact on alumni giving behaviors. Quantitative data from a member institution of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities were analyzed to explore the influence of demographic variables of age, marital status, and era of institutional operation on alumni contributions. This research addressed six key questions, including comparisons of the participants' mean giving to national averages, differences in giving across 5 years, and the effect of marital status on donation levels. The results indicated significant variations in giving patterns across alumni age cohorts and marital status, highlighting the complex interplay of these factors in shaping philanthropic behaviors. A comparison of this study's data to national data on alumni giving revealed the unique characteristics of alumni philanthropy within this context. The findings support developing targeted fundraising strategies, emphasizing the importance of personalized alumni engagement in enhancing donation levels. Christian colleges can optimize their outreach efforts by identifying specific demographic groups with higher giving propensities, ensuring sustainable financial support for their educational missions. This research contributes to the broader understanding of alumni philanthropy in faith-based higher education, offering a foundation for future studies on effective fundraising practices in similar institutional contexts. The study also underscores the necessity of adapting engagement strategies to the demographics of alumni.

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