FOSTERING STUDENT-ALUMNI CONNECTIONS & EXPANDING PROSPECT ENGAGEMENT THROUGH CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATIONS

Mary Ann Cicala, Alumni Director

Austin Community College

Objectives

Understand the ingredients of a successful partnership

Understand the components of a cross department engagement strategy

Leave with ideas to implement in your own shop

Plan(t) the Seeds for the Future

Who Benefits

Alumni Relations professionals seeking ideas for volunteer opportunities and impactful events

Annual Fund and Major Gift professionals seeking strategies to increase new alumni giving

Career Service and Advising professionals seeking program ideas for career development and strategies for increasing student participation

Tools you will leave with

Conceptualize the roles and partnerships each department plays in fundraising

Understand the important correlation between professional interactions with students and first impressions of existing alumni

At least one strategy on developing alumni engagement with current students

Challenges Identified

Shared Interests and Goals

Positive Alumni

Behaviors

Positive Alumni Role Models

Positive Student

Experience

Realistic Expectations

Build Timeline 12 months out Not sustainable for any partner

to do everything: Focus on key strengths and benefits for each office

Must invest a lot of time up front

Steps to New York Connection

People Clear Vision/Mission Statement Timeline Event

People

Start with quality core group and grow

Diverse Spheres of Influence Donor Engagement Strategy

Steps to New York Connection

People Clear Vision/Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The purpose of the New York Connection is to assist undergraduate students with their career planning by: Gathering information regarding professional life in New York

City Exploring interests, values, and skills and connecting them to

the workforce Hearing real-life accounts of "life at work" Exposing students to a variety of employers in the

communication and arts fields Learning about the career paths and responsibilities of Emerson

College alumni Allowing for formal and informal conversations and networking

between students and alumni

Steps to New York Connection

People Clear Vision/Mission Statement Timeline

Timeline

Month/Day Task

12 MonthsMarch

Confirm the Date with major stakeholders (Alumni Relations/Career Services)

9 Months July/August

Send out Save the date to Academic Departments, Student Life, Deans, and NY Alumni Chapter Leader(s)

7 Months September

Prospect Review—Brainstorm and Prioritize Potential Site Hosts: Major Gift Officers, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Alumni, and Annual Giving Staff

6 Months October

Confirm Closing Reception Site

3 MonthsJanuary

Coordinate and Secure Site VisitsIdentify Staff/Faculty Volunteers

Timeline continued

Month/Day Task

1 Month OutFebruary

Open Registration for Students(Marketing: Emails, Posters, Table Tents, Dept. Flyers, & Class Announcements)

1 Week Before Host Mandatory Prep Sessions for Student Participants

2 Days Before Email Student Guides• Emergency Contact Information• Schedule for Career Track• Information on Site Hosts and

Bios

1 Day Before Reminder email from Staff/Faculty Track Captain with his/her emergency contact information

1 Business Day After Link to Survey

1 Week After Post Mortem with Key Staff/Faculty

Steps to New York Connection

People Clear Vision/Mission Statement Timeline Event

Event: Agenda

Event: Site Visits

Closing Event and Partnership with Local City Chapter

Partnership with Local City Chapter Central Location Great Opportunity to Partner with

Foundation & Corporate Relations Empower Chapter to Own This

Event

Event: Closing Reception

Communications

Students: Email, Class Announcements, mandatory prep session, briefing w/ agenda and site description/host bios, 2 reminder emails, survey

Faculty/Staff Captains: Email, Group Meeting, Introduction to site host, briefings, survey, thank you

Site Hosts: Intro/Meeting, Email with Logistics, Confirmation with attendees list (security), thank you email, thank you gift, follow up with PM

survey

thank you

Student Briefing

Cultivation & Stewardship

Student survey before email include feedback

Personalized letters and emails Email highlights “favorite moments” collected in

student feedback Handwritten note thank you with gift (usually a

framed photo with students or office gift basket) Feature in Expression Magazine

Cultivation & Stewardship

Results

Site Hosts—to annual fund donors/participation 17 of 22 (88%) Made their first gifts in FY13

Major Gift Donors Led to Naming Opportunity in LA Center

Corporate Foundation engagement Viacom Scholarship Program for students who

demonstrate a commitment to enhancing & promoting diversity

Evaluate Post Mortem, Make Improvements

Questions?

Mary Ann CicalaAlumni DirectorAustin Community Collegemary.cicala@austincc.edu512-223-7109