The $100,000,000 Gift – Fairytale Versus Reality

It sounds like a philanthropic fairy tale:  Former recipient of $30 scholarship repays alma mater to the tune of $100 million.

On January 26th, UCLA announced a $100 million gift from Meyer and Renee Luskin.  The gift will benefit the UCLA School of Public Affairs and a new residential conference center. Major gifts like this one aren’t magical, and they don’t simply drop from the sky.

The Luskin gift had a humble beginning. Meyer Luskin commuted to UCLA from his neighborhood on the East Side of Los Angeles, Boyle Heights. His studies were interrupted by World War II – he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force). After the war, a $30 scholarship enabled him to continue his studies at UCLA. Meyer graduated with a degree in economics and went on to earn an M.B.A. from Stanford University. He met and later married Renee, a fellow UCLA student who earned a sociology degree.

What Do Online Giving Numbers Mean?

It’s easy to get caught up in good news.

According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, “online donations rose sharply last year.” Convio, Blackbaud and Network for Good, all fundraising system vendors, reported increases in giving to their customers.  Convio reported its clients experienced more than a 40% increase.  Blackbaud reported 5,000 of its customers raised 10% more dollars online in December but didn’t specify what the increase was compared to.  Network for Good reported a 20% increase in online giving during 2010 compared to 2009.