Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 2002. / UMI number: 3060191. Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-257). Also available on the Internet.

Consistent reductions in state and federal financial support for America’s public colleges and universities have resulted in an increased institutional reliance upon non- traditional revenue sources. Budgetary shortfalls precipitated by the loss of appropriations led many institutions to seek out alternative sources of revenue. While many of these strategies have proven to be controversial with institutional stakeholders (e.g., annual tuition rate increases), one appears to be both popular and effective: alumni giving. Colleges and universities rely heavily upon alumni to enhance the institution by subsidizing operational costs; this is especially crucial in times of great financial stress. In order to ensure strong, lifelong relationships between alumni donors and their alma maters, institutions must consistently evaluate the methods through which alumni giving is solicited. It is not enough to merely expect alumni to become philanthropically engaged upon graduation; institutions must create a culture of giving amongst its student body. The study explored how colleges and universities may foster increased alumni participation in institutional philanthropy. By gauging the perceptions of young alumni, institutions will be able to determine if existing efforts are effective in encouraging future alumni giving. Grounded in altruistic (i.e., prosocial), social exchange, student development, and donor motivation theories, this study utilized a quantitative survey methodology to uncover prevailing alumni perceptions toward contemporary institutional philanthropic efforts. Study participants were asked to reflect upon their undergraduate experiences and the relationships they maintain with their alma mater after graduation. The study found that specific variables (e.g., alumni association membership, gender, financial contributions, engagement in alumni activities, satisfaction with the undergraduate experience, and institutional connectivity post-graduation) were statistically significant in predicting membership within three distinct donor groups. After all data were collected and analyzed, recommendations were made to assist institutions in developing programs that are most likely to encourage active alumni participation and create a culture of giving amongst student bodies. / text

This thesis uses data from The Survey of Texas Adults, 2004 to analyze the giving and volunteering patterns of various groups focusing on the role of several relevant social and demographic characteristics and also focusing on whether or not an individual was asked to participate in these various activities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis is performed to test for statistical relationships between selected factors and giving and volunteering rates. In each of the analysis, logistic regression models are estimated to assess how factors such as race, education, citizenship, gender, age, income, and being asked affect the outcomes of money given to religious organizations, money given to other organizations, being asked to volunteer, and solicited for money. Findings suggest that, overall, Latinos are not significantly different in their odds of giving to religious organizations when compared to their white counterparts. The results of the next set of logistic models, however, show that Latinos have lower odds of giving to other groups or organizations. In terms of who is asked to volunteer or solicited for money, the results suggest that Latinos are not asked to volunteer at the same rate as whites; therefore, limiting an important avenue of participation. These finding confirm the hypothesis that Latinos are just as likely to make financial contributions to their local church, but they have lower odds of giving to other, nonreligious organizations. In addition, the findings confirm that Latinos are less likely to be asked to volunteer when compared to other groups.

This study investigated the behaviour of re-gifting using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Re-gifting is the gift-giving behaviour of giving a gift that was previously given to you, to another with the pretence that you purchased the gift. The qualitative phase used semi-structured interviews to uncover an initial understanding of re-gifting behaviour from participants’ selected using purposive sampling. The main findings arising from this phase showed that re-gifters used three main factors to determine when it is appropriate to re-gift. These three factors, relationship, occasion and gift were used as the basis of the conceptual framework. This framework was then analysed using an online experiment with the use of vignette techniques which was the focus of the quantitative phase. The study focused on understanding what influences individuals decisions to re-gift. The main factors of interest were how the gift, occasion and relationships involved influenced re-gifting intentions. Re-gifting attitudes where analysed using the factors gift-giving attitudes, previous re-gifting experiences and frequency of re-gifting. A total of 211 responses were collected from Web users from around the world. The study suggests that re-gifters are influenced by the relationships involved and the type of gift, not the occasion. Re-gifting attitudes can be influenced by previous re-gifting experiences. This study has numerous practical implications, more specifically for retailers and charity organisations. This study adds major contributions to both gift-giving and disposition literature and introduces the area of re-gifting. Future research in cultural differences, gender differences and re-gifters versus non re-gifters suggested.

Thesis (M. Div.)--International Christian Graduate University, School of Theology, 1982. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-79).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-62). Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1962. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2006. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 221-227).

D. Litt. et. Phil / The purpose of this research was to answer the following question: The funding of the church according to the book of Acts: Socialistic or capitalistic? Can this model of giving be developed and defended that promotes and integrates the believer and his material possessions while at the same time respecting the believer as an autonomous agent, who, as such, may be led by the Holy Spirit to give up all his possessions in support of the work of the Lord? In order to answer the research question a discourse analysis of selected verses in the Sermon on the Mount (SM) regarding possessions is undertaken as well as an analysis of verses selected from the book of Acts regarding money and possessions. The ethical guidelines as presented in the SM, can serve as a guideline for each believer as the SM presents God’s standard in a practical manner. Due to the social environment during the first century A.D., which could have had an influence on the manner in which the early believers used their material possessions to support the work of the Lord, a social scientific investigation of the first century A.D. is undertaken. The introduction to the research as well as an Old Testament (OT) background regarding the role possessions played in worshiping the deity is presented in the opening chapters. The conclusion reached was that money and possessions have always played a vital role in the relationship between the believer and the deity. It was also established that specific laws concerning “giving” developed over a period during OT times, which was meticulously followed by Israel. The New Testament (NT), however, takes on a new direction when it comes to giving, and this new standard of giving is investigated against the backdrop of the social and religious environment of the first century A.D. The question as proposed in the study is answered in chapter 5. Guidelines regarding “giving” are submitted in which I hope would free many believers from the legalism clearly evident in many teachings. Chapter 6 contains a critical evaluation of the two “giving” philosophies, presented by scholars. This study xiv reveals that much of what is being taught and practised among believers today with regard to giving to God, is based on the prescriptive patterns of the OT examples of giving. Most of these models or theories fail to provide specific guidelines for the believer to make the crucial distinction between autonomous choices and choices dictated by the Holy Spirit. Chapter 7 concludes with a synthesis of the entire study.

This quantitative study utilized secondary data furnished by 652 institutions of higher education which participated in the 2008 Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) national study managed by the Council for Aid to Education. This study investigated the relationships among private and public status across baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degree typologies and total alumni giving, restricted giving and unrestricted giving per full time equivalent (FTE) for the 2007/08 academic year. The independent variable included the three degree-granting sub-categories of institution as categorized by either public or private status. The dependent variables included total computed alumni giving for 2008 per FTE, restricted alumni giving for 2008 per FTE and unrestricted giving by alumni for 2008 per FTE. ANOVA main effects were calculated and statistical significance determined using the &#945; < .05 level. Tukey Post-Hoc calculations were computed and Cohen's f 2 was used to determine effect sizes. Total alumni giving per student FTE differed at statistical significance across the six institution types, F (5, 651) = 37.181, p < .001, f 2 = .29. Total restricted giving per student FTE differed at statistical significance across the six types, F (5, 651) = 28.90, p < .001, f 2 = .22. Total unrestricted giving per student FTE differed at statistical significance across the six types, F (5, 651) = 35.371, p < .001, f 2 = .27. This study's restricted giving index documents alumni make differentiated choices concerning gifts based on institution type. Recommendations are issued for further research and professional practice.