How Advancement Can Save Your School
This is an excerpt of an EverTrue article by Keith Hannon of Cornell Alumni Affairs & Development. Click here to read the full version (no download required). It’s 8:30 am, and I’m kicking back in my chair sifting through the engagement numbers on last night’s Facebook post for Cornell alumni. I look at the comments […]
How to Unleash the Power of the (Virtual) Alumni Volunteer
Traditionally, advancement has asked alumni for three things: time, talent, and treasure. Elaborating further on this beat-to-death slogan, we ask our alumni to engage with us, lend their skills in a volunteer capacity, and make a financial contribution to their dear old alma mater. But while the the triple Ts easily roll off the tongue, […]
A Rejection Letter to Advancement
The Office for Alumni of Colleges and Universities Advancement Office 1 Development Dr. Collegetown, USA Dear Alma Maters, We have carefully reviewed all of your information and credentials as an applicant for our annual act of philanthropy. After much consideration, we regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you a financial gift […]
Striking Out: What Fundraising Can Learn From the American Pastime
Baseball is back! The “American Pastime” has just raised the curtain on its 145th season, and everyone is excited! Well, by “everyone,” I mean “not nearly as many people that used to be excited about opening day, or baseball in general.” Whether it’s declining stadium attendance, TV ratings, or Little League participation, baseball is […]
Rethink Your Advancement Budget to Raise More. It's THAT Simple.
If you work for a university, you may have noticed the ceiling above your head creaking a bit. Maybe it’s just the building settling, or maybe it’s the sign of a problem “overhead” with the foundation. Higher ed’s rate of hiring non-academic staff is starting to make headlines—making it harder and harder to convince our donor base […]
Rethink Your Advancement Budget to Raise More. It’s THAT Simple.
If you work for a university, you may have noticed the ceiling above your head creaking a bit. Maybe it’s just the building settling, or maybe it’s the sign of a problem “overhead” with the foundation. Higher ed’s rate of hiring non-academic staff is starting to make headlines—making it harder and harder to convince our donor base […]
How Sweet It Isn’t: College Closure Demonstrates Need for Social Strategy
By now you’ve heard: After 114 years, Sweet Briar College in Virginia is shutting down. Many in and outside of the industry, like Dallas Mavericks owner and entrepreneur Mark Cuban, are calling this the beginning of the higher-ed bubble burst, while others think it’s not that dire. I’m not an economist and I’m not an admissions […]
The Party All Your Alumni Are "Liking" About: Tracking Social Media Posts Like Events
The Academy Awards are behind us, which means we can turn our attention away from all the cool parties that we AREN’T invited to and focus on the alumni events we’re obligated to plan. Advancement offices, after all, are known to throw a party every now and again… and again… and again. We’ve got reunion, […]
The Party All Your Alumni Are "Liking" About: Tracking Social Media Posts Like Events
The Academy Awards are behind us, which means we can turn our attention away from all the cool parties that we AREN’T invited to and focus on the alumni events we’re obligated to plan. Advancement offices, after all, are known to throw a party every now and again… and again… and again. We’ve got reunion, […]
Grading the LinkedIn Groups of America's Top Catholic Colleges
Previously, I wrote at (painful) length about important elements of a successfully managed alumni LinkedIn group. Consider that your appetizer for a never-ending buffet of higher-ed LinkedIn group analyses. Although LinkedIn is arguably not quite as fun and dynamic as Facebook, it’s still an essential piece of any advancement social media strategy. LinkedIn engagement is traditionally low—but […]
Grading the LinkedIn Groups of America’s Top Catholic Colleges
Previously, I wrote at (painful) length about important elements of a successfully managed alumni LinkedIn group. Consider that your appetizer for a never-ending buffet of higher-ed LinkedIn group analyses. Although LinkedIn is arguably not quite as fun and dynamic as Facebook, it’s still an essential piece of any advancement social media strategy. LinkedIn engagement is traditionally low—but […]
Why Your Alumni LinkedIn Group Demands Your Attention
In the year 1849, gold was discovered in California’s Sacramento Valley, sparking the famous American Gold Rush. When all was said and done, $2 billion worth of the metal had been extracted from the Golden State’s soil. In 2003, LinkedIn was founded. Twelve years later, the rush is still on—only this rush is like digging for gold without a pickaxe or […]
