Impact of the S.T.R.I.P.E.S. Leadership and Extended Orientation Program on Philanthropic Giving

This study investigated the impact participating in S.T.R.I.P.E.S., a leadership and extended orientation program, had on the philanthropic giving of recent alumni at a research university in the Southeastern United States. The dependent variable for this study was philanthropic giving to the institution during the three years immediately following graduation, as defined by their personal donations as recorded in cumulative giving by the university’s foundation. The goal of the study was to determine to what extent, if any, school leadership development, loyalty, and engagement taught through leadership and extended orientation programs influence the donation behavior of recent graduates. The target population for this study was defined as undergraduate program completers (obtained a bachelors degree) at large, public, research universities in the Southeastern United States. The accessible population for this study was defined as all recent alumni (100%) who graduated with a bachelor degree from one large, public, research University in the Southeastern United States in 2009, 2010, and 2011 (N = 12,511). Of this 12,511, there are 625 alumni who participated in the S.T.R.I.P.E.S. as indicated in their alumni record. Data analyses were conducted utilizing inferential statistics including Chi-Squared analysis, t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). In addition, a Multiple Discriminant Analysis was conducted to assess if alumni could be correctly classified into donor vs. non-donor status. Results indicate that participation in S.T.R.I.P.E.S. has a positive influence on whether or not an alumna/us becomes a donor as a recent graduate. A greater proportion of S.T.R.I.P.E.S. participants (29.4%) are donors when compared to non-participants (15.2%). Participation in the program increased the likelihood that a recent graduate would become a donor. S.T.R.I.P.E.S. has a higher percentage of women, minorities and out-of-state participants than the general alumni population. A higher percentage of participants pursue additional degrees at the institution. S.T.R.I.P.E.S. participants have a higher percentage of donors who are female, although males gave a greater cumulative amount of money, gave more frequently and made larger average donations than females. Black/African Americans and Hispanics gave greater cumulative amounts than Whites. A predictive model exists regarding philanthropic giving by recent alumni