But according to Bok, the weekends aren't justanother fundraising ploy. "I don't think that'strue that they're just used as a perk. I'm suredifferent motives may inspire different kinds ofinvitations, [but fundraising] is certainly notthe primary motive involved as far as I can tell."

Still, Glimp concedes that such methods areimportant if Harvard's wealthier alumni are to bepersuaded that the University actually needs theirmoney. "If people get used to [understandingcosts], it will seem to them to be important,"Glimp says.

And Harvard's strategy is not unique. Mostschools' development officers say the push tobuild alumni support has increased dramatically asthe burden of higher education's costs falls moreand more heavily on the private sector.

"Fundraising starts with a relationship thatyou build with your constituency over a number ofyears," says Washington fundraising analystRichard Edwards.

The Younger Generation

Although younger alumni--those who areapproached within five to 10 years ofgraduation--may not be able to give a largedonation, they can still be kept involved with acampaign through volunteer work, Edwards says.

And this strategy will pay off, he adds,explaining, "in 10 to 20 years, the sameindividual is now a CEO of a corporation."

At Harvard, Glimp says he tries to maximizealumni involvement. He says there are more than5500 alums involved in fundraising for the Facultyof Arts and Sciences (FAS) alone.

Of this group, Glimp says 46 percent gave tothe College last year--twice as many as the numberwho voted in the Board of Overseers election.

And what's true in general for alumni is doublytrue for the younger classes, fundraisers say.

"You want to keep people involved for futurepurposes," says Joel A. Getz '86, class marshalfor his year. "Participation is very important foryounger classes."

Getz says he organizes telethons andletter-writing campaigns for younger classes. And,recently, he was invited to a fundraising workshopat Harvard that included a session entitled,"Soliciting for Major Gifts."

In the workshop, Getz says he was advised to bebold and ask alumni for exact amounts, because you"don't know how much money some of these peoplehave."

But Glimp says the development office tries tostart even earlier than graduation day.

"We try very hard to have seniors aware of the[Harvard] clubs," Glimp says. Those clubs play animportant role in keeping graduates connected tothe University, he adds. New York's club even"recruits" recent graduates.