MU Donations

[MU gimp ONE]

I got my call last night. The girl was very nice and wanted to know how the games were for me so far. So yes, they knew I was a season ticket holder, not random. I'm renovating my house now so I said I'm going to hold off. She politely asked if they can call back in the spring, I said that would be best.

Overall pleasant experience. If anyone is a d*ck to these kids, it's probably indicative to who they are to everyone else. If you got caller id because of these calls, you probably also have a ball retriever in your golf bag.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

B) The alumni call list probably doesn't have a "Season Ticket Holder" designation by the names.

As a four-year "team leader" for the Annual Fund, I can tell you this is absolutely true.

[Strokin 3s]

But they know who donates to the B&G Fund apparently, which will certainly include some non-season ticket holders, I am sure it would serve as a good proxy for Season ticket holders since your donations are more valuable there.

[MU gimp ONE]

This was for B & G donations, so they know season ticket holders. The girl flat out said, we want to thank you for being a season ticket holder.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

This is an open note to anyone from the "Office of Advancement" / call center for donations.  DO NOT solicit season ticket holders for donations in the middle of a MU game. 

During the middle of the Grambling game (yes, I know it's only Grambling, but still...) they called.  I was not so annoyed with the call as I was with the stupidity of a marketing department calling season ticket holders during the middle of a game.  Talk about wasting resources, A. they are either going to be at the game B. not going to answer that call during the game or C. answering and asking what the hell someone is doing asking for money for Marquette during a game.

Anyone else had the same experience?

That's pretty bad. The Lyric Opera called me in the middle of a Cubs playoff game and I practically lost my 5hit.

[barfolomew]

Well... keep in mind that this is the same Office of Advancement who is foregoing thousands of dollars a year in scholarship money because they're too damn lazy/ignorant to setup an MU license plate offering with the Illinois Secretary of State.

I was also wondering at this, Benny.

Looks like as of July 1, 2016, an organization will only need a 2,000 plate commitment (as opposed to 10,000 plates currently), so there should be no reason not to.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/99/PDF/099-0483.pdf

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Blanket recommendation to those among us who want to support MU financially but don't enjoy telemarketing calls:

1) Ask to not be called
2) Set up a regular donation to go to MU
3) Find other things to post about on muscoop

[RushmoreAcademy]

I always laugh because I almost always get them during the games.  Good strategy.

[chapman]

Was called during the IUPUI game.  I still can't believe they constantly call and snail mail me.  Do they also try to send a fax?  It's not 1990, send an e-mail.  I've checked to make sure they have my e-mail, yet I never, ever receive anything.

[GGGG]

Was called during the IUPUI game.  I still can't believe they constantly call and snail mail me.  Do they also try to send a fax?  It's not 1990, send an e-mail.  I've checked to make sure they have my e-mail, yet I never, ever receive anything.

Phone is the most cost effective way to raise annual fund dollars.  Emails are cheap but get very little return.  At many organizations, the annual fund is really struggling. 

[Coleman]

Can't believe the level of complaining here

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

My annual donation to Marquette is going to be whatever my donation to the Blue and Gold fund for my season tickets.

[GGGG]

Can't believe the level of complaining here

Phonathon calls asking for donations are annoying. 

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Was called during the IUPUI game.  I still can't believe they constantly call and snail mail me.  Do they also try to send a fax?  It's not 1990, send an e-mail.  I've checked to make sure they have my e-mail, yet I never, ever receive anything.

Not to sound like a broken record here, but it seems really simple to me

Tell them not to call you and unsubscribe to emails. Then donate or don't however much/little you'd like.

If this basic concept is stumping you, the only blame MU is accountable for is admitting you in the first place.

[GooooMarquette]

Can't believe the level of complaining here

Agreed. It's just a phone call, and it's from your alma mater. No reason to get angry about it. The students who call me are always pleasant, and I see no reason not to be pleasant back.

[MomofMUltiples]

What I would appreciate is if the callers would identify themselves as from Marquette up front.  We have a somewhat difficult to pronounce last name, so one of our practices to avoid talking to telemarketers is to say "so-and-so isn't here" when the pronunciation is mangled (ie, people who clearly don't know us).  However, I do like to talk to our various alma maters' students when they call, so if they said right away, "this is Marquette university and I'm calling for Mrs. X" they might get more money from me.

Of course, paying two MU tuitions right now (down from 3 last year) makes me feel like I'm donating an awful lot already...

[warriorchick]

What I would appreciate is if the callers would identify themselves as from Marquette up front.  We have a somewhat difficult to pronounce last name, so one of our practices to avoid talking to telemarketers is to say "so-and-so isn't here" when the pronunciation is mangled (ie, people who clearly don't know us).  However, I do like to talk to our various alma maters' students when they call, so if they said right away, "this is Marquette university and I'm calling for Mrs. X" they might get more money from me.

Of course, paying two MU tuitions right now (down from 3 last year) makes me feel like I'm donating an awful lot already...

You would think that after the first time you correct them, there would be a place in there system for the caller to enter the phonetic spelling of your name.

But I know what you mean. As a general rule, as soon as any caller starts tripping up on my last name, I hang up the phone.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Seriously, here is a simple answer: Donate $25 and be done with it.  That is 10 minutes of your professional time.  Every MU graduate who had a positive experience should give 50 cents per week.  Sheesh

[Benny B]

I was also wondering at this, Benny.

Looks like as of July 1, 2016, an organization will only need a 2,000 plate commitment (as opposed to 10,000 plates currently), so there should be no reason not to.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/99/PDF/099-0483.pdf

Hell, I could probably put together several hundred on my own by passing out flyers at a game.  With a bit of help, we don't even need MU... we'll just start our own MUScoop schollie fund.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

One item I found while working the phones at MU (maybe some of my cohorts could weigh in), was that the alumni who made the biggest stink about a particular issue "I'm not donating until [The Warrior Nickname Comes Back] / [LGBT Groups are Banned] / [etc]" were the ones with a tiny donation history. Like $10 ONCE.

It's the 80/20 rule 80% of talk time with folks who donated the least. The most pleasant, easygoing folks were the ones who would say, "Oh yeah, I forgot to do that this year. Let's do $1,000."

[chapman]

You would think that after the first time you correct them, there would be a place in there system for the caller to enter the phonetic spelling of your name.

That and collect a couple bits of data asking for preferred method and time of contact would be a great idea...I mean, they teach students to do that when they enter the workforce after all. 

Seriously, here is a simple answer: Donate $25 and be done with it.  That is 10 minutes of your professional time.  Every MU graduate who had a positive experience should give 50 cents per week.  Sheesh

I spend about 90 seconds annually clicking a couple buttons to do it online, and add the value of all that time saved to my donation 

[warriorchick]

One item I found while working the phones at MU (maybe some of my cohorts could weigh in), was that the alumni who made the biggest stink about a particular issue "I'm not donating until [The Warrior Nickname Comes Back] / [LGBT Groups are Banned] / [etc]" were the ones with a tiny donation history. Like $10 ONCE.

It's the 80/20 rule 80% of talk time with folks who donated the least. The most pleasant, easygoing folks were the ones who would say, "Oh yeah, I forgot to do that this year. Let's do $1,000."

This was discussed in a another thread awhile back.  If you don't want to donate, just say so.  Don't make some lame-ass excuse. 

And saying you refuse to help out current students because you don't like the school's nickname just makes you look like a dick.

[Dawson Rental]

I am assuming you weren't responding to me directly, but others on the thread...but I guess my point was more the calls don't bother me, they are what they are and we all understand them I think.  What bugs me is that whoever is assigning these students to call during these hours should really know their audience better.

Calling in the middle of a game to season ticket holders is likely to yield no answer from many since they are at the game.  Many more no answer since they are watching the game and don't want to talk now and many more that answer and then are mad that they called during the game.

I just think you take 1 hour on either side of game time start and end and say during this time we are stuffing mailers or something like that since I am going to venture to guess their success rate is very low during games.

And gear it up an hour after a big win.

[Coleman]

Phonathon calls asking for donations are annoying.

No doubt. But big deal. Ignore the call or block it. Everyone knows what a 414-288 number is.

[GGGG]

No doubt. But big deal. Ignore the call or block it. Everyone knows what a 414-288 number is.

Actually when they called last night, I asked them to remove my number from their telethon.