I hope this letter does not fall on deaf ears.
But apparently, each time I tell you to remove my name off your list, nobody seems to listen.
So here we go.
I’d like to thank you for your recent telephone inquiry on whether or not I would be interested in donating any denomination of money to my former institution of higher education.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to contribute this time around, or any time in the near future.
I get it; higher education is more than just monetary value.
Well, except when the price tag for tuition is more than three arms, six legs, your unborn child, and childhood pet. Couple that with the fact that most students will be paying off the loans taken out, just to attend said university, until they are old enough to run for president, and then higher education is about the monetary value.
Please forgive me if this sounds rather short. I don’t mean to be rude. I am currently stressed about paying my rent, budgeting for groceries, and figuring out how to have an active social life on a miniscule salary.
I simply cannot commit to giving my money at this time.
I can, however, provide you with multiple instances over the course of my stay that conclusively clarify my budgetary commitment to the institution that taught me so much more than how to shotgun a beer in ten seconds or that I have a serious issues with self-control around all-you-can-eat buffets.
For four years, I donated to this university when I purchased countless supportive sporting event tickets. When concerts or special events came to campus, I paid to attend.
Freshman year my RA decided my floor-to-ceiling denim blackout curtains were not only atrocious, but a fire hazard; and instead of admitting I was fined for fashion faux pas, I considered it a mandatory donation.
Every time I walked into the school store to buy a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, or a hat to represent school spirit, I donated and subsequently advertised. Because, in case I didn’t mention, I’m a local celebrity, and what I wear makes mad buzz ripples around the hometown circuits.
When I finally completed all my degree requirements, I donated when I bought my cap and gown, and again when I wanted copies of my transcripts. I paid to wear a black, cloth trash bag.
I just simply cannot commit to giving any more of my money at this time.
Maybe when I am older, I’ll have finished paying off my loans, and established myself in my career. Maybe I will have more of a disposable income to allocate such funds towards the school that did not really do much to help me get a job upon graduation.
Or maybe I’ll just be saving up to put my kids through school.
All so you can call them after graduation and ask if they’d like to donate any of their money to the institution that will give them the brightest future and the most hope.
PS – I’m sorry I hung up on you after your introductory sentence. That was rude and I am sorry.
Sincerely,
Anyone Who Has Ever Graduated Or Attempted To Graduate College But Is Too Poor To Give Back Or Too Cynical To Care
Half and Half 
Bahaha! “Freshman year my RA decided my floor-to-ceiling denim blackout curtains were not only atrocious, but a fire hazard; and instead of admitting I was fined for fashion faux pas, I considered it a mandatory donation.”
A coworker just came in my office to see what I was laughing at. She loved this too!
Thank you!! I was mortified, I thought I had such great taste!!
We were so interested in putting your donation into the slush fund and/or the litigation contingency fund.
NOT ON MY DIME.
I so wrote exactly this a year ago. Except now I make a game of trying to get the poor student with the work study job on the other end of the phone to laugh. Also I ask them to make a note in my file that when the registrar’s office finally coordinates its shit with the library and acknowledges that I do not in fact have an outstanding library fine balance due of five cents so I can have my diploma, I’ll give them some money.
I totally have an outstanding balance for the gym. The gym was free! HOW DO I HAVE A BALANCE. I hate them.
Oh how I love this post. So sick of the calls from my high school, college, grad school and law school. I have no money, people.
I’M POOR, LEAVE ME ALONE!
It should not have been that difficult to code you as no solicitations. It’s a waste of money to ask someone for money who has already indicated they will not give.
Signed,
Someone who works in higher ed fundraising
Understandable! We’ll see if they stop calling. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Yeah seriously, after you are done paying the loans off when you are 110, maybe you can donate your false teeth. lol This was a good one.
That or maybe they’ll cash in on the fact that I’m an organ donor and go after those!
I’ve graduated from college and law school, so I’ll have two institutions coming after me while I’m trying to pay off even more loans. I feel your pain.
I have my grad school constantly calling, I am just so poor!
Yes! They need to be inviting me to champagne brunches and job fairs to get my money. And I told them so. That is, I told the poor customer service grad student who couldn’t do anything about the number of phone calls and donation requests I was receiving.
I kind of feel bad for them, they’re just doing a job, yet aways get greeted with such anger!!