Asian American giving to US higher education

Abstract

Asian Americans have had significant impacts on and within mainstream US society, and their great efforts and gifts in the name of charitable causes are no exception. This study aims to examine perceptions within American university development offices about Asian American giving to US higher education. The article begins with a literature review of previous studies to understand the diversity in fundraising, donor motivations and the characteristics of Asian American giving. Then, the study presents three case studies of Asian American giving to US higher education. The sample universities included in this study showed a high representation of Asian Americans on campus, developed and implemented unique fundraising strategies toward Asian American donors, and recorded significant contributions from Asian Americans. In order to further illustrate the charitable behavior of Asian American donors and also to explore the recent impact of the deteriorating global economic environment to the university fundraising, the author conducted in-depth interviews with development officers. This study not only provides more detailed and significant information on the characteristics of Asian American giving, but also sheds light to the cultural factors and beliefs that motivate Asian Americans′ support of higher education in the United States.