Southern Methodist University’s “Fry the Frogs” fundraiser seems to have croaked.

After striving to obtain 1,000 young alumni donations by Sept. 23, SMU Second Century Campaign’s “Fry the Frogs” fundraising effort had only about half that number by 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the SMU Second Century Campaign website.

Thursday marked the deadline for the fundraiser that began on June 1. The effort encouraged donation from young alumni, who are defined as alumni fewer than 10 years past graduation. As of last Monday, SMU was pushing to obtain 610 additional donors to reach its goal the day before the Mustangs and Horned Frogs play for the Iron Skillet.

Andrew Snow, director of alumni relations at SMU, and Holly Myers, assistant director of young alumni and student programs at SMU, were not available for comment at press time.

Harrison Hanvey, a TCU alumnus who graduated in May with a degree in engineering, said that although a young alumni fundraiser sounded like a good idea, the current economy and job market may prevent a lot of recent graduates from donating to their alma maters.

“It affects everything,” Hanvey said. “A lot of young alumni I know don’t have jobs yet.”

Despite the failed effort, Hanvey said that it was smart to relate the fundraising effort to the Iron Skillet football game.

The Battle for the Iron Skillet is tonight at 7 p.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.