Decline in Giving Rate

The headline proclaims a record of $81.8 million donated, but the real story seems to be in the participation rate declining precipitously from 61% to 47%% in less than a decade after holding steady at ~60% for the first 15 years shown in the graph (and likely much longer). This should be alarming for the University and yet I have not seen any analysis from the PAW or the University of why this might be the case. Perhaps the PAW can do some journalistic investigation into what accounts for thousands of alumni deciding to drop annual giving. A story examining the nearly 25% drop in the alumni giving rate in less than a decade seems cover worthy to me.