The donation does not elevate it to a public performance. This probably would be considered a public screening, because the group is formed of people who have only a common interest, not necessarily a social relationship. Whether or not it is a social group formed by members outside the college is not relevant. It is both public and commercial. If the performance is public, the College could most certainly be drawn into a suit because its property is being used to screen the video.
People begin to hear about it and more and more non-friends start showing up.
The performance is open to the public and is now being shown in circumstances where a substantial number of people who are not family members or friends can attend. There are not really any differences here. This is a matter of Federal Copyright Law. Section 101 of the Copyright Act, revised substantially in 1976. Defines public performance.