Abstract
Higher education institutions have long assumed that cultivating alumni philanthropy begins with them—that giving must be developed, solicited, and encouraged through institutional strategy. This study invites a different perspective. This qualitative multiple case study interviewed 12 alumni of color from four Catholic universities to examine how they perceive and make sense of philanthropy at their alma maters. Findings illuminate how young alumni of color are already practicing philanthropy—through time, service, testimony, and relational engagement—shaped by family backgrounds, cultural traditions, and religious practices long before any institution played a role. What institutions determined was not whether these alumni would give, but whether that generosity would flow back toward them. Analysis revealed four themes: Perceptions of Philanthropy; Foundations of Philanthropy: Family, Faith, and Community; Institutional Experiences Shaping Philanthropic Orientation; and Institutional Engagement as Showing up and Giving Back. Interpreted through Bourdieu's (1986) theory of cultural capital, Yosso's (2005) Community Cultural Wealth model, and the Five Ts of Philanthropy, the findings extend Yosso's framework beyond the classroom: just as students of color bring rich cultural assets to their institutions, alumni of color bring deep philanthropic beliefs and behaviors to their alma maters. The philanthropic potential of historically excluded alumni is already present. What remains is the institutional responsibility to recognize it.