National Alumni Survey-Presentation

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The 2026 National Alumni Survey, based on responses from 82,000+ alumni at 31 institutions, shows that higher education still enjoys strong alumni goodwill, but no longer has a default claim on alumni giving. Alumni rate the value of their education and campus experience highly, yet feel less satisfied with the current relationship with their alma mater, especially younger generations.<br /><br />Key findings:<br />- Alumni are generous overall, but many direct philanthropy to other charities rather than their alma mater.<br />- Feeling connected and informed strongly predicts giving, priority-setting, and frequency of donations.<br />- Giving behavior varies by generation: younger alumni are more likely to support individuals, give as needed, and prefer digital/e-wallet options.<br />- Alumni want specific, personally relevant opportunities, not broad “area of greatest need” appeals.<br />- Recognition and impact transparency are weak points; many alumni do not feel appreciated, trust institutional use of gifts, or believe their alma mater understands who they are now.<br />- Student debt affects giving, especially among recent grads, alumni of color, and women, but it does not eliminate philanthropic intent—many still support other causes.<br />- Volunteering is a major predictor of engagement and future giving, yet it is often treated as separate from the donor pipeline.<br />- Alumni who feel known—particularly regarding their philanthropic priorities—give far more over their lifetime.<br /><br />The report recommends shifting from transactional pipeline thinking to relationship-based strategy: listen consistently, personalize outreach, make impact visible, elevate volunteering, build trust continuously, and measure satisfaction and “feeling known” as core indicators of future generosity.

Keywords

National Alumni Survey

alumni giving

higher education philanthropy

alumni engagement

donor relationships

generational giving

student debt

volunteering

personalized outreach

impact transparency