Graduates of Fairfield University no doubt keep memories of friends, parties, and classes fresh in their minds after they graduate. But as one of the youngest Jesuit institutions in the nation, school officials hope that alumni also keep memories of Fairfield in mind by making monetary contributions to the university.
Fairfield is a young university compared to some others around the country; Fairfield opened its doors in 1942.
This means Fairfield’s alumni base, a chief fundraising tool, is a lot smaller than that of other similar schools.
Being a private university, Fairfield depends on donations to help pay for a “comprehensive range of major new initiatives designed to advance the institution to a new level of excellence,” as stated on the development section of the University Web site.
The small numbers of alumni however has not had a largely negative effect on their annual giving. “Participation rate is comparable to the national average, the school is doing well compared to other schools nation-wide,” said Cristina Dieguez, assistant director of Annual Giving. Last year $2.5 million was donated from 7,823 donors.
One donor was Cynthia Woll Walsh, ’75. “We donate money yearly because we have wonderful memories of our years at Fairfield and we would like to see Fairfield achieve its financial goals for the future,” she said.
Younger alumni are not as quick to offer up their money to Fairfield just yet. “Maybe ten years from now, but not anytime soon,” said Ashley Cousins, ’02, when asked if he would donate money to the school.
Some hope that as the Fairfield Alumni community matures, the amount it is willing to donate will also grow.
However, according to Dieguez, the amount donated stayed the same over the last year.
The amount of money an alumnus makes after his or her years at Fairfield may be proportionate to the amount they give back.
“If I am able to get a good job and I thought the school was a big part of my success than I would give some back, maybe If I had gone to a different school I wouldn’t be in that position,” said Mark Goodfellow, ’05.
With the recent cuts of the football and hockey teams many Fairfield Alumni, especially ex-athletes, are up in arms. In a letter to the Editor in the Mirror last week, Jon Hanley, ’84, and Marshall F. Richards, ’83, suggested that Athletic Alumni stop giving money to the school. Walsh, however, does not feel the same way.
“I absolutely do believe that alumni should donate, especially because Fairfield just lost its football and hockey programs,” she said.
“I hope all alumni are as indignant as I am and will perhaps be more generous in their contributions this year.”
With annual giving at the level of the national average, about 25 percent and the school’s alumni community, as well as class size growing. Fairfield University will continue its development plans as the numbers rise.
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