Pros Advise Not to Overlook International Students as Potential Donors - Higher Education

Pros Advise Not to Overlook International Students as Potential Donors - Higher Education: SAN FRANCISCO — No matter how many or few international students enroll at any given U.S. college and university, they should all be considered prospects for charitable gifts to their institutions. And, much of the information about these individuals’ wealth is obtainable for practically nothing.

That was the consensus among multiple panelists at a conference titled, “International Fundraising: Giving Without Borders,” that was convened by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) last week. CASE is the professional association for K-12 and higher education advancement professionals who work in alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing and related areas.

Among foreign countries, China is the No.1 sender of students to U.S. institutions, according to the Institute for International Education. In 2012-13, the most recent year for which statistics are available, about 29 percent of international students in this country were from China, followed by India and South Korea at 12 and 9 percent, respectively. Saudi Arabia came in at 5 percent.