Alumni participation is used as an indicator of alumni satisfaction by foundations and some college guidebooks. Alumni who participate at any level help Harding's standing for student recruitment and fundraising.
Harding is rated each year by organizations such as Peterson's and U.S. News and World Reports. Alumni giving percentages are noted and factored into the ranking process.
Perhaps the most critical reason for a high participation rate among alumni is that major foundations consider the willingness of a university's alumni to support a campaign as a primary key in grant making. These foundations state that they seek to help those institutions that help themselves through the support of grateful alumni, parents and friends.