2008 Woodie Awards
Oh, the places he goes
President Rosenberg has jetted to England, Iceland and the U.A.E. seeking donations from alumni
By: Annie Flanagan, Contributing Writer
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
First England, then Cyprus and Iceland. Now Dubai, U.A.E. And those are just the places Rosenberg has visited on behalf of Macalester in the past six months.
Tommy Bonner, vice president for advancement and development, spoke to Macalester's ongoing effort to reach out to international alumni.
"We have made deliberate efforts to connect with alumni in various parts of the world," Bonner said.
Despite the encroaching economic recession, Bonner denied that the trip to Dubai-a world business hub in a region rich in oil-was a tactical decision.
"The Middle East was not a shift in focus. We began planning trips abroad to reach out to our international alumni long before the economy began suffering," he said.
Aside from appealing to international alumni in their own countries, Macalester also relies on the 24 hour International Phonathon for donations, Anthony Grundhauser, director of individual gifts, said. "Last year was a wonderful success with alumni and parents gifts coming in from 34 countries around the globe."
Dan Schroeder '07, who presently lives in Dubai, agreed that some of Macalester's tactics have worked.
"I do feel connected to Macalester, particularly to the people I know that are sill there, both faculty and students," he said. "I plan to donate to the annual fund. I don't think my location has any impact on this, except in that where I chose to live may affect my income."
According to the Alumni Website, there are Alumni Chapters all over the country and world, and approximately 10% of alums live abroad. However, there are more obstacles to get alumni living abroad, rather than in the United States, to donate, Associate Director of the Annual Fund Meghan Bethke said.
Bonner agreed, listing communication failures, philosophical differences regarding philanthropy and United States government issued tax deductions as the biggest obstacles.
"Staying in touch with our international alumni is our biggest challenge," he said, "but on the upside, the Internet has boosted our ability to do so."
Tommy Bonner, vice president for advancement and development, spoke to Macalester's ongoing effort to reach out to international alumni.
"We have made deliberate efforts to connect with alumni in various parts of the world," Bonner said.
Despite the encroaching economic recession, Bonner denied that the trip to Dubai-a world business hub in a region rich in oil-was a tactical decision.
"The Middle East was not a shift in focus. We began planning trips abroad to reach out to our international alumni long before the economy began suffering," he said.
Aside from appealing to international alumni in their own countries, Macalester also relies on the 24 hour International Phonathon for donations, Anthony Grundhauser, director of individual gifts, said. "Last year was a wonderful success with alumni and parents gifts coming in from 34 countries around the globe."
Dan Schroeder '07, who presently lives in Dubai, agreed that some of Macalester's tactics have worked.
"I do feel connected to Macalester, particularly to the people I know that are sill there, both faculty and students," he said. "I plan to donate to the annual fund. I don't think my location has any impact on this, except in that where I chose to live may affect my income."
According to the Alumni Website, there are Alumni Chapters all over the country and world, and approximately 10% of alums live abroad. However, there are more obstacles to get alumni living abroad, rather than in the United States, to donate, Associate Director of the Annual Fund Meghan Bethke said.
Bonner agreed, listing communication failures, philosophical differences regarding philanthropy and United States government issued tax deductions as the biggest obstacles.
"Staying in touch with our international alumni is our biggest challenge," he said, "but on the upside, the Internet has boosted our ability to do so."
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