The Call Center
Through Pepperdine's phone program, current students serve as proud representatives of the University. Pepperdine students enjoy sharing campus experiences and news with alumni and parents, while updating contact information and seeking partners to enhance the University mission.
The Pepperdine Fund strives to maintain ongoing personal contact with our alumni and parents, a group of more than 100,000 constituents. Our student calling team plays an integral role in meeting this goal by reaching more than 30,000 Pepperdine community members each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are you calling me?
- Who makes these phone calls?
- Why is a gift of any amount important?
- Is it safe to donate by credit card?
- Why do you ask me to commit to an amount over the phone?
- Why are you calling me if I'm on the National Do Not Call List?
1. Why are you calling me?
For several reasons, Pepperdine attempts to maintain contact with as many alumni and
parents as possible. We want our alumni to feel connected to Pepperdine and be aware
of current and upcoming events. To best serve our Pepperdine community, we also want
to ensure your contact information is kept up-to-date. Lastly, we want to ask for
your support in providing funding for student scholarships, campus activities, and
ground-breaking initiatives in all areas of the University.
back to top
2. Who makes these calls?
After a thorough interview and training process, 25-30 current students place calls
on behalf of Pepperdine University to our alumni. The callers are overseen by Mackenzie
Visser, an employee of RuffaloCODY, a nationwide company specializing in educational
and nonprofit fundraising. Nicole Assael, a member of The Pepperdine Fund team in
Pepperdine's Advancement Office, is the University liaison with the call center. She
meets regularly with the Call Center Manager to monitor alumni support and ensure
that the program meets Pepperdine standards.
back to top
3. Why is a gift of any amount important?
Alumni support is critical to Pepperdine's success as a preeminent, global, Christian
university. A gift of any amount counts towards our alumni giving percentage, which
is used by U.S. News & World Report to rank universities, by corporations and organizations
in selecting grant recipients, and by prospective students and donors as a direct
indicator of alumni satisfaction with their Pepperdine experience.
back to top
4. Is it safe to donate by credit card?
Giving by credit card is the best option – for us and for you! We can avoid the administrative and environmental costs of sending a pledge packet and any pledge reminders (which include a letter, envelope, return envelope and postage). To ensure that you are able to make your credit card gift at the best time for you, the student caller will ask if you would like to defer your gift – allowing your credit card to be charged on a future date.
We understand any concerns you may have about credit card security. However, please
be assured that our student callers, Gifts Processing department, and University computer
systems adhere to PCI compliance guidelines (a set of requirements designed to ensure that all organizations that process, store,
and transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment). Your credit card
number is never stored by our students or by Pepperdine, so you will be asked for
your credit card information each year we contact you. If you are wary of giving your
credit card information to a caller claiming to be a Pepperdine student, please contact
The Pepperdine Fund at (310) 506-4579.
back to top
5. Why do you ask me to commit to a specific amount on the phone?
A commitment over the phone is important for several reasons. First, a committed pledge
amount is needed in order for our system to generate a pledge packet. Once you receive
the pledge packet in the mail, you are always free to change the amount before sending
your gift back to Pepperdine. Secondly, a commitment helps us to track our progress
throughout the year and determine how close we are to achieving our goals. Finally,
a pledge commitment serves as encouragement to our student callers that you are willing
to support Pepperdine and are serious about making a gift.
back to top
6. Why are you calling me if I'm on the National Do Not Call List?
Legislation regarding the National Do Not Call list exempts nonprofit organizations.
We hope that since you are receiving a call from your alma mater, you will welcome
a call from Pepperdine. If you would like to be placed on Pepperdine's Do Not Call
list, please inform the student caller or send an email to pepperdine.fund@pepperdine.edu.
back to top