ken_sylvania wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 3:23 pm
It looks to me like they're trying to exploit the same psychological response as the "tipping culture." Not demand payment up front, or at least make it a smaller payment requirement, but require the students to sign pledges so that hopefully they will feel a psychological pressure to give, give, give later in life. Sattler basically says as much, just in "sanctified language" - they think they can collect more this way than by collecting tuition up front.
This system works great for many universities. And it works alright as a way for Mennonites to find nonprofits.
The unique aspects that may prohibit this from working at Sattler that I see?
1. Will alumni feel that their donation dollars are best given to Sattler, or will they prioritize other nonprofits and their churches? Where will their loyalties lie, to their church, or denomination, or missions, or Sattler?
2. Sattler has no church constituency to fund and support them. Will this matter?
3. Is a religious schools graduates going to hew more towards business or towards service? If service, then will the funds even exist in their bank account to give at all? It’s not like Sattler is a business school like Wharton, where they will be focused on turning out businesses people who will be able to cut hefty checks to their alma mater.
But as long as Finney keeps funding it, they probably can experiment with their funding model for quite a while.