Category: Segmentation

Low Engagement, Big Opportunity: Strategies for the Two Bottom Engagement/Giving Quadrants

Part 2 of “Rethinking Alumni Strategy: Why Engagement and Giving Belong on the Same Map” Series (Click here for Part 1) When you combine alumni engagement behaviors (reading communications, attending events, volunteering, advocacy) with giving patterns, you see clear clusters rather than a smooth continuum. In Part 1, we showed how combining engagement behaviors with […]

Four Quadrants, One Goal: Alumni Engagement and Giving Reimagined

Part 1 of “Rethinking Alumni Strategy: Why Engagement and Giving Belong on the Same Map” Series For years, many advancement teams have talked about “engagement” on one hand and “giving” on the other, as if they were separate scorecards. While CASE Insights on Alumni Engagement Survey identifies philanthropy as one of the four modes of […]

Reframing Engagement Strategies: Alumni as a Unique Stakeholder Group

Effective alumni engagement requires institutions to move beyond broad outreach and consider alumni as a distinct and nuanced stakeholder group. By understanding how alumni differ from other key university stakeholders, and by factoring in their unique forms of institutional affinity, higher education leaders can drive greater impact with programming, communications, and philanthropic strategy.​ Understanding the […]

From Yesterday to Tomorrow: The New Motto for Alumni Success

A Note from Rob Shoss, President & Managing Consultant: As I talk with advancement professionals around the country, I often hear them ask, “How do I get alumni to focus on how they can support their alma mater? Alumni need to understand that the university cannot succeed without their support.” When I hear this, I […]

Strategic Approaches to Boost Alumni Engagement Using Preparedness for Life Data

Trivia Answer: True! Alumni who report that their collegiate experience strongly prepared them for their life are more than twice as likely to donate and three times as likely to participate in mentoring or professional networking events than those who report feeling unprepared. The connection between alumni’s level of preparedness for life and engagement opens […]

Preparedness for Life: The Leading Indicator for Lifelong Alumni Engagement

In the world of alumni relations, engagement is the lifeblood of sustaining connections, financial support, and community vitality. Yet, what factors drive alumni to remain active and committed over decades? New research by the Alumni Attitude Study identifies a fundamental element that shapes enduring alumni engagement: alumni perception of their preparedness for life. This blog […]

Smart Engagement for Institutions with Limited Resources

Conducting an alumni survey is far more than a data-gathering exercise. It’s a strategic act of relationship-building that can transform alumni engagement, especially at institutions with modest budgets and lean teams. By inviting alumni to share their opinions via alumni surveys, institutions plant the seeds of trust and demonstrate genuine care, laying the foundation for […]

Why Now Is the Moment to Engage Alumni: Navigating Higher Education’s Stormy Seas

Higher education is navigating unprecedented challenges: shrinking endowments, political scrutiny, declining public trust, and generational shifts in alumni expectations. In this turbulent climate, alumni engagement isn’t just a nicety: it’s a lifeline. While financial pressures might tempt institutions to cut back, the data* reveals that now is precisely the time to invest in alumni relationships. […]

Data-Driven Strategies: Leveraging Alumni Insights for Campaign Success

In an era where nearly every university is mid-campaign or planning one, alumni surveys—like the Alumni Attitude Study—emerge as a game-changer. These tools don’t just measure sentiment; they strategically align campaigns with alumni priorities, ensuring efforts resonate deeply and drive results. Why Alumni Surveys Matter for Campaigns Campaigns thrive when they unite stakeholders around a shared […]