OT: Fundraising calls from State

[dorndawg]

Anybody else getting almost-daily fundraising calls from State? It has gotten out of hand. I've literally never once given over the phone - internet is so much easier. I get it why fundraising is vital, but I'm at the point where I resent their tactics and it kinda makes me not want to give at all.

 

[Arthur2478]

I've just quit answering any numbers with a 662.325 prefix. If it's somebody at the Bulldog Club that actually needs to talk to me about my account, they'll leave a message. Otherwise, I know it was just one of the phone bank workers looking for a donation or wanting to thank me for a previous donation.

 

[stateu1]

Me too. They actually called my office yesterday immediately after I didn't answer cell.

I've just quit answering any numbers with a 662.325 prefix. If it's somebody at the Bulldog Club that actually needs to talk to me about my account, they'll leave a message. Otherwise, I know it was just one of the phone bank workers looking for a donation or wanting to thank me for a previous donation.

 

[patdog]

It's beyond out of hand. It's harassment. There's a line between bringing in revenue and driving it away. And they may have crossed it. I've been doing what MStateDawg does and just don't answer if it's from 601-325-. I'm thinking maybe I should just answer it next time and tell the person who called that if they call me one more time, I'm not donating anything that year.

 

[mstateglfr]

Itd be interesting to hear how many alum on this board arent hit up for donations. Perhaps the department is recycling numbers when they have a pool of untapped potential right next to them.

 

[dorndawg]

I've tried that, doesn't work. Between paying the students for the phone calls & all that entails, plus the piece of mail I'm getting almost weekly, I'd wager the University is spending close to (or maybe even over) $100/year to solicit me. And I'm not even a cigar boy!

Related: Can one block an entire prefix on iphone? Obv can block the indv numbers, but that's like playing whackamole.

 

[BigBully]

I was getting hit up weekly. I finally told them that I would contribute once the university began flying the state flag. No more calls after that.

 

[57stratdawg]

If you request to have you number removed from the call log, they will.

 

[dorndawg]

I can assure you, that literally is not always true. Even with repeated polite requests.

 

[Cubswillwinitonedaydawg]

My niece works in that group. It is apparently an auto-dialer rotation. Apparently most people take the not answering 662-325 approach (as I do). She said she is always surprised when someone actually answers - 1 in 10 or so actually pick up.

 

[mstateglfr]

It is apparently an auto-dialer rotation.

Looks like its time for them to reach out and try and get current ph#s from more alumni.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

I try to be polite because they are just students trying to make a buck but Jesus. You say I don't want to give today thanks and they are like "How about giving $30? Ok how about $25? $20?" Drives me 17ing crazy

 

[Wizard of bulldogery]

tell them you plan on donating again once you get your house paid off or give some kind of legitimate excuse with a date a few years down the road and they won't call you again for a year. That's what i did and it worked (not sure if it will work for 5 years but did work for 1)... spare 5 minutes or so act interested be nice (these are students working) and politely tell them to take you off the list.

 

[thf24]

A few weeks ago they called my cell while I was at work. I ignored it, and seconds after it stopped ringing, my office phone rings. I don't even know how they got my work number, but there they were calling me at work without permission literally immediately after they failed to reach me on my cell. It has indeed gotten out of hand.

Something in particular that rubs me the wrong way is that it's obvious they make no effort to look up your information before calling. On the rare occasion I do pick up, the response is usually mild surprise when I say I've already set up my giving for the year. Personally, I might be a little more receptive to whatever they have to say if I got the impression I was more than a name and a phone number on a list at that moment in time to my alma mater who's asking me for money.

 

[RocketDawg]

Yep, and the more they call the less I give. I don't answer their calls anymore ... they're annoying and unsolicited.

 

[Shmuley]

2 years ago I told the caller, "actually [name of alum] died recently. I'm his nephew and I'm answering his phone while his estate is open. Please mark your records to reflect his death." It worked. Zero calls since. Not sure how this ruse interplays with bulldog club, but apparently it has had no effect as nothing changed there.

 

[stateu1]

Literally just ingored a call from them. 24hrs and 10 min after yesterdays call.

 

[patdog]

Just tried to answer today's call, and no one ever picked up. 24 hours and 18 minutes after yesterday's call. So I e-mailed the president of the MSU Foundation. We'll see how that works out.

 

[kired]

Called my work office # a few weeks ago too. No clue how they got it. I must have entered it on some alumni contact form. But do they really expect me to commit to a payment during the middle of the day while I'm trying to work?

 

[rynodawg]

I give a small amount to Bulldog Club annually, and even donated on the Giving Days last year. Never have received one call, despite the BDC having my #. Not sure how I'm not on any lists, but hope the luck keeps up.

 

[dogwhisperer]

you guys must not have twitter, or facebook, or instagram, or any other social

Called my work office # a few weeks ago too. No clue how they got it. I must have entered it on some alumni contact form. But do they really expect me to commit to a payment during the middle of the day while I'm trying to work?

media that is linked to Mississippi State. If you did, you would realize it's HailState giving days for the foundation. They do a major push for a few days to get people to donate ANYTHING they can.

Ease up. With the state of our tax base in the state of MS, higher ed is about to get hammered. MSU needs all the money they can get.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Funny listening to MSU people complain about fundraising. Our university is located in a small, poor state where a sizable portion of its graduates leave the state after graduation. The only way it stays viable is with alumni donations. I get it if you don't want them calling you, but answer the phone and ask them politely not to call you again, or just ignore the phone call. Don't ***** about why MSU is trying to raise funds. We SHOULD be trying to do that.

Sorry they inconvenienced your precious little day.

 

[o_fredgarvin]

Funny listening to MSU people complain about fundraising. Our university is located in a small, poor state where a sizable portion of its graduates leave the state after graduation. The only way it stays viable is with alumni donations. I get it if you don't want them calling you, but answer the phone and ask them politely not to call you again, or just ignore the phone call. Don't ***** about why MSU is trying to raise funds. We SHOULD be trying to do that.

Sorry they inconvenienced your precious little day.

THIS^^^^^^ The State of Mississippi is about to cut their budget 5%. Everyone needs to lighten up.

 

[dorndawg]

Lemme hear what you have to say when they start calling you daily.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

do you kick puppies too?

 

[RocketDawg]

Funny listening to MSU people complain about fundraising. Our university is located in a small, poor state where a sizable portion of its graduates leave the state after graduation. The only way it stays viable is with alumni donations. I get it if you don't want them calling you, but answer the phone and ask them politely not to call you again, or just ignore the phone call. Don't ***** about why MSU is trying to raise funds. We SHOULD be trying to do that.

Sorry they inconvenienced your precious little day.

Nobody's complaining about the University raising funds. Complaints are because of the incessant phone calls. If you ignore their calls 30 times then you'd think they'd get the message that you don't want to talk to them. Call once or twice, then don't call back again ... it won't do any good. Also, one would think they could look at your donation history and if it's a fairly large number, see that you most likely feel like you've given enough and don't want to be bothered.

I'll be glad to give them your number if you'd like.

 

[NTDawg]

THIS^^^^^^ The State of Mississippi is about to cut their budget 5%. Everyone needs to lighten up.

I was told that the FY 2018 budget, starting July 2017, was cut 5% from FY 2017 that has been cut 5% during the year. So that they have really been cut 10%. I hear lay offs are coming.

 

[The Usual Suspect]

THIS^^^^^^ The State of Mississippi is about to cut their budget 5%. Everyone needs to lighten up.

This is one of my biggest problems, MS has not funded adequately for years.

 

[Bulldogg31]

I've got a daughter on campus so it always freaks me out for a second while I try to figure out who it might be from 662-325.

Turns out it's always fundraising.

I recently told them my daughter has gotten five parking tickets this year at $30/each, so please consider that (along with tuition and fees) as my contribution for the next few years.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Lemme hear what you have to say when they start calling you daily.

Just got a call 5 minutes ago. Man, the ring tone set my ears on fire.

Quit yer whining.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Nobody's complaining about the University raising funds. Complaints are because of the incessant phone calls. If you ignore their calls 30 times then you'd think they'd get the message that you don't want to talk to them. Call once or twice, then don't call back again ... it won't do any good. Also, one would think they could look at your donation history and if it's a fairly large number, see that you most likely feel like you've given enough and don't want to be bothered.

I'll be glad to give them your number if you'd like.

Tough life you got there, man I'll tell ya, must be rough, ignoring a phone call. Again I say, quit yer whining.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

I get a call every couple days, but they never leave a voicemail. I figured if it was Cannizaro wanting my advice, he would leave a message.

3 days after my graduation years ago, I got a call wanting a donation. I told the girl the ink wasn't even dry on my degree and call me back in a couple years.

 

[jdbulldog]

I recently removed my land line. So far, no cell phone calls. If that starts my giving stops.

 

[PubDawg]

I graduated in December 2002. January 30th 2003 they called and asked me for $$. I told them they had lost their damn mind and I should have gotten a better job with my degree. They had all my money already.

 

[patdog]

There's a line between effective fundraising and harassing your potential donors. You don't ever want to cross that line. MSU Foundation is at the very least close to the line. I've ignored the calls for months, then I tried to answer one today and no one ever came on the line. If you're going to call (and I agree that they need to at times), you'd damn well better have someone ready to talk to the person you called or leave a voice mail if they don't answer.

 

[Go Budaw]

They call my cell all the time. I just hit ignore, but will probably start blocking numbers soon.

 

[thf24]

media that is linked to Mississippi State. If you did, you would realize it's HailState giving days for the foundation. They do a major push for a few days to get people to donate ANYTHING they can.

Ease up. With the state of our tax base in the state of MS, higher ed is about to get hammered. MSU needs all the money they can get.

I'm aware of the fundraising event. Can't speak for anyone but myself, but the calls since it started haven't been any more frequent for me than usual.

I get that the university needs money and that it's getting harder and harder as time goes on. I think most everyone does. The point here is that their current practice of what amounts to mass cold calling has gotten obnoxious, and may be doing as much harm as it does good judging from the discussion.

 

[JungRebel]

If its anything like it was at ole miss, you get fired for not making four asks, and supers listen to random calls. After the first two youre asked to verify information, to get you saying yes, then more asks. Truly a soul sucking job. I had old people who apparently have no one left in life talk to me for half an hour many times. Some would tell you they love you before hanging up after you hit up their fixed income for a $10 credit card donation.

Burn out rate was high but a few of us stuck it out for most of our time at OM. Most of the time people don't answer so you can study or shoot the **** with people next to you.

 

[RocketDawg]

Tough life you got there, man I'll tell ya, must be rough, ignoring a phone call. Again I say, quit yer whining.

Not whining, just responding to a post. And you didn't give me your phone number so I can pass it along to the BDC and the university. If they don't already have it that means you must not have registered with the Alumni Association.