67% of Buff Club Members Not CU Alumni

[Buffnik]

Heard this on the Buffalo Chips show.

I'm in that number because I love sports, love my Boulder community, believe strongly that CU is the cornerstone of my community (and of the state), love the gameday experience, love the access I get as a college sports donor, I have a great time with other passionate fans, and it's also a great networking opportunity for me for personal and work as a transplant to Colorado.

It blows my mind that doubling the number of alumni donors would only make the Buff Club a 50/50 mix of Affiliate/Alumni members. This move to the Pac-12 and the re-connection with so many CU alums has probably been underestimated by the media and fans. This is huge.

(Also, Bohn said season tix are now down 8% from last year and he had projected a possibility of 15% down. He was pretty pleased with how the fanbase has stepped up. When I stopped by Folsom today to get my parking pass for CSU, the line was out the door so they must be getting a nice ticket rush late this year.)

 

[Duff Man]

That stat blew me away. We could definitely some good things within the next 5 years just by engaging alumni in-state and out of state.

 

[Ruckus]

This stat reads good and bad to me. It is good that we get support from non-Alumni, whether they grew up CU fans, but went elsewhere for whatever reasons or they became fans after moving here or whatever.

It's bad that there are so many alums out there that aren't part of the Buff-club.

It would be nice to have those who grew up fans actually go to CU rather than off somewhere else, but many do it to play a sport or go to their other dream school, et cetera. At least some come back to be members.

 

[JeffCOBuff]

I think this would be somewhat standard for most football programs. I doubt most of the fans in Memorial stadium on any given Saturday are UNL grads. I would agree that CU should try to get more $$$ out of its alumni base. But, that market is somewhat limited. I believe there are only a little over 200k living alums. If the football program plans on being a power again then it will need to have better support from the citizens of Colorado.

 

[PhillyBuff]

I think this would be somewhat standard for most football programs. I doubt most of the fans in Memorial stadium on any given Saturday are UNL grads. I would agree that CU should try to get more $$$ out of its alumni base. But, that market is somewhat limited. I believe there are only a little over 200k living alums. If the football program plans on being a power again then it will need to have better support from the citizens of Colorado.

That wouldn't be a good sign if all of the people in Memorial Stadium were college educated....

 

[Unleash Hell]

I'm one of those 67%

 

[tante]

thanks for everyone that is part of the club that is not an alumni. I knew if I moved to another state, I would love the buffs, but would follow the local team and go to the games like you all do.

 

[NashBuff]

I'm one of those 67% too. I'm a CU fan because my father took me to all CU home games during the 1990 season...how could that not have a lasting impact on you?

 

[buff4bcs1985]

I'm one of those 67%

I'm one of those 67% too. I'm a CU fan because my father took me to all CU home games during the 1990 season...how could that not have a lasting impact on you?

:wave: 67%

 

[sackman]

He also defined a buff club donor as somebody who donates $1,000 or more to the program every year.

 

[absinthe]

He also defined a buff club donor as somebody who donates $1,000 or more to the program every year.

I think you miss-heard that or he miss-spoke, the threshold is 100 not 1,000. The average gift is close to $1,000 based on published numbers though.

 

[sackman]

I think you miss-heard that or he miss-spoke, the threshold is 100 not 1,000. The average gift is close to $1,000 based on published numbers though.

Then he must have miss-spoke, because I clearly heard him define a Buff Club donor as somebody who gives at least $1,000 to the program annually.

 

[Buff_since76]

:wave: 67%

Count me in. I grew up cheering for Colorado since they were my local team. I have several friends who went to other Universities for different reasons, but still cheer/donate to the AD.

 

[Rraalph 3000]

Then he must have miss-spoke, because I clearly heard him define a Buff Club donor as somebody who gives at least $1,000 to the program annually.

Just listened to the show....Bohn stated that there were only 97 Buff Club Donors that give $1,000 or more...i'm certain there are more than 97 Buff Club Members, I think the point is that there are not many that contribute large sums to the University

 

[boulder77]

Wow!! That stat is kind of unbelievable to me. As one of the 33% minority, I have two things to say:
1. A big "allsome" to all of you 67%ers. We'd be ****ed without you guys.
2. WTF CU alumni!?!?! How embarrassing.

 

[Darth Snow]

Wow!! That stat is kind of unbelievable to me. As one of the 33% minority, I have two things to say:
1. A big "allsome" to all of you 67%ers. We'd be ****ed without you guys.
2. WTF CU alumni!?!?! How embarrassing.

working on the funding part of that buff club dealio :smile2:

 

[Buffnik]

Just listened to the show....Bohn stated that there were only 97 Buff Club Donors that give $1,000 or more...i'm certain there are more than 97 Buff Club Members, I think the point is that there are not many that contribute large sums to the University

I didn't catch the part about only 97 giving $1,000 or more. Do you think that's a number for direct Buff Club donations or the number for total donations to the AD? I don't write a specific Buff Club check, but I add $300 per ticket in donations for my 3 season tix and also have the money I donate along with my MBB season tickets. I can't believe that there are only 100 people giving at least at that level.

 

[UrbanaBuff]

I'm repping the 33%, though I don't donate $1,000+ per year. Assuming my tuition was a donation, I have a handful of years to still burn off...

 

[Deleted member 807]

Count me in the 33% of alumni.

My motive for giving is simple. I was given a non-athletic scholarship to CU, and feel endebted to CU for rewarding me with a subsidy and providing me with tools to survive in the workplace. I want to give back.

When I speak with other alums in my family, they don't have the same bond. By their logic, CU is a govenment institution supported by tuition and tax. Once your taxes are paid, and your tuition/debt is settled, the financial relationship with the institution ends. When you buy tickets, you are supporting the athletic department.

They go on to argue that the need for charity is vast. Donations spent at the church, or the cancer society, or battered women's shelter, or PTA, or any of the thousands of other not-for-profit organizations address more pressing needs.

The out-of-state alumni have a chip on their shoulder for paying 4x or more on tuition. They've done their part in contributing to the financial well being of CU.

These are the perceptions I've collected when making a case for people to support the CU Foundation and/or Buff Club.

My response is that CU had a special place in my heart. It has given me knowledge, friends, and skills that I benefit from every day. The game day experience is a special and unique event that allows me to enjoy a quality of life that I'd miss if it were gone. I support CU for my own selfish reasons, and in hopes that those who come after also enjoy and support this amazing cultural treasure for years to come.

 

[Buffnik]

By their logic, CU is a govenment institution supported by tuition and tax.

Interesting post.

I figured I'd give you some ammo when you're arguing the quoted point.

https://www.cu.edu/content/timeline0

From a different article that explained the tuition increase (which only closed 20% of the funding gap created by state budget slash on funding of higher education):

Since July 2009, Colorado has cut higher education funding by nearly 60 percent, which amounts to a $2,600 drop in per-student funding.

******************

On top of that, very little actually goes to the Athletic Department. But a successful AD advertises the university, attracts more applications, increases the selectivity of admissions, and dramatically improves the revenue and rankings of CU.

 

[GoBuffs08]

67% married to 33%

 

[Ruckus]

Just listened to the show....Bohn stated that there were only 97 Buff Club Donors that give $1,000 or more...i'm certain there are more than 97 Buff Club Members, I think the point is that there are not many that contribute large sums to the University

I didn't catch the part about only 97 giving $1,000 or more. Do you think that's a number for direct Buff Club donations or the number for total donations to the AD? I don't write a specific Buff Club check, but I add $300 per ticket in donations for my 3 season tix and also have the money I donate along with my MBB season tickets. I can't believe that there are only 100 people giving at least at that level.

To clear up confusion, he was talking specifically about California Alumni at that point. He said we currently have about 22,000 Buff alum who live in California and only 97 of that specific group were Buff Club members with donations of at least $1,000. Since the Pac-12 announcement, that number has increased by 400%.

EDIT: And I mean the number was 97 before the Pac announcement so 400% increase from there.

 

[Deleted member 807]

Interesting post.

I figured I'd give you some ammo when you're arguing the quoted point.

https://www.cu.edu/content/timeline0

From a different article that explained the tuition increase (which only closed 20% of the funding gap created by state budget slash on funding of higher education):

Since July 2009, Colorado has cut higher education funding by nearly 60 percent, which amounts to a $2,600 drop in per-student funding.

******************

On top of that, very little actually goes to the Athletic Department. But a successful AD advertises the university, attracts more applications, increases the selectivity of admissions, and dramatically improves the revenue and rankings of CU.

Where does the Colorado tax payer prefer to spend it's money?
http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/dfp/sco/CAFR/cafr09/cafr09fin.pdf

$4.1B is attributed to Higher Ed. That's a big chunk of $21.6B annual expense in 2009.

Given the state's budget for Higher Ed, and the fact that CU's regents are elected, it's easy to understand why Colorado tax payers think they are contributing to CU through their tax burden.

Is Dan Hawkins the highest paid State employee?

 

[tante]

Count me in the 33% of alumni.

My motive for giving is simple. I was given a non-athletic scholarship to CU, and feel endebted to CU for rewarding me with a subsidy and providing me with tools to survive in the workplace. I want to give back.

When I speak with other alums in my family, they don't have the same bond. By their logic, CU is a govenment institution supported by tuition and tax. Once your taxes are paid, and your tuition/debt is settled, the financial relationship with the institution ends. When you buy tickets, you are supporting the athletic department.

They go on to argue that the need for charity is vast. Donations spent at the church, or the cancer society, or battered women's shelter, or PTA, or any of the thousands of other not-for-profit organizations address more pressing needs.

The out-of-state alumni have a chip on their shoulder for paying 4x or more on tuition. They've done their part in contributing to the financial well being of CU.

These are the perceptions I've collected when making a case for people to support the CU Foundation and/or Buff Club.

My response is that CU had a special place in my heart. It has given me knowledge, friends, and skills that I benefit from every day. The game day experience is a special and unique event that allows me to enjoy a quality of life that I'd miss if it were gone. I support CU for my own selfish reasons, and in hopes that those who come after also enjoy and support this amazing cultural treasure for years to come.

I was on scholarship as well, but instead of donating to the AD, I repaid right back to the scholarship fund that I took money out of.

 

[Deleted member 807]

I was on scholarship as well, but instead of donating to the AD, I repaid right back to the scholarship fund that I took money out of.

I did like you. I contributed to the CU Foundation and directed funding towards the program that offered the scholarship. Over time, my donations have far exceeded the amount of the original scholarship because I would like to be part of a program that I continue to believe in.

I was a walk-on in the XC/Track program. While the CUAD did not fund my education, I did directly benefit from the use of facilities, and especially the coaching. This experience drives my decission to make an other donation to the Buff Club.

My generosity towards CU has been questioned by my wife, who made a compelling case for me to consider spending more funds and energy on kiddy skiddy's elementary school instead of some University that is 900 miles away.

The good news is that the Buff Club isn't a millionaire's organization. All it takes is $100. That's as much as a dinner out with 5 friends.

 

[buff190]

I'm part of the 67% as well. Moved here in '76, my Dad got us season tix in '77. Cu was not very good back then but the seed was planted. When CU started to get good in the 80's I started paying more and more attention to college football. My Dad, after moving away for a while and then moving back got season tix again ('88) (oh and he went to Minnesota) and had them for 20 years before I took them over.

I live, eat, breath and BLEED the Black and Gold to a fault. (this includes ALL sports) And will probably be this way until I die. I wish all alumni had half the passion for CU I did.

GO BUFFS!

 

[buffs6236]

I am one of the 67% i have season tickets and was born, raised, and still live in omaha nebraska. i am a DIE HARD Buff. always have been always will be. i have had season tix since 2002