One out of every four seniors has already donated money to the University, a four percent increase from last year's graduating class, according to Senior Class Gift committee members.As of last week, about 150 members of the Class of 2007 had raised $7,137.11 for their senior gift, which is used to finance many of the University's costs, including maintenance and professor salaries, according to the University's Development and the Alumni Relation Web site. At this point last year, the Class of 2006 only had a 21 percent participate rate, Assistant Director of Annual Giving Ali Brand '05 said.

Seniors were asked to donate $20.07, representing the year of their graduation. Students can make a donation in honor of a professor, department or club, and the money can go to a specific organization if the student prefers, committee member Rachel Hillman '07 said. Additionally, seniors can donate the balance of their WhoCash accounts.

Getting seniors to donate before they graduate sets them on the right path toward donating later in life, Hillman said. Donating is also important, she said, because it raises the University's rankings in publications like the Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report.

The University has different levels of recognition for those who donate. Alumni who give $1,000 or more each year are considered part of the "Justice Brandeis Society," which holds exclusive networking events in cities where there are alumni, Brand said.

Recent graduates can be classified as "Emerging Leaders" if they donate an amount equal to $100 multiplied by the number of years they have been out of the University, Brand said.

Jonathan Mandel '07, a Music major, said he wanted to give back to the University and support his program. "I decided I wanted to donate, and I decided to get it done," he said.

Asked if he will donate to the University in the future, Mandel said jokingly, "If I have enough in my bank account, I will."

"I had a great experience here, and I want others to have a great experience as well," he said.

-Michael Grillo contributed reporting.