Picardi even praised the ASG's efforts.
"I think that they're all good causes," she said.
But several of the reasons cited by Edelman and the ASG website for giving to the ASG are also reasons not to give to the Senior Gift.
According to the website, even last year's record-breaking Senior Gift increased the endowment by less than a thousandth of a percent. And Edelman questions if the amount raised through the Senior Gift even covers its considerable fundraising costs. He said the Harvard College Fund claims to not have figures on the Senior Gift's overall profitability.
Despite the ASG's disappointing results this year, Edelman said he is optimistic that the ASG will be more successful in the future.
"I just think it's really good that we got an alternative out there," Edelman said. Edelman said the current incarnation of the ASG is likely to continue.
An unrelated Alternative Senior Gift was organized in 1996 to promote a greater female presence on the Faculty.