alumni as advocates

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Alumni as Advocates Mike Dean Tipping Point Strategies

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Presentation on engaging alumni as advocates for public funding of higher education.

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Page 1: Alumni As Advocates

Alumni as Advocates

Mike Dean

Tipping Point Strategies

Page 2: Alumni As Advocates

Agenda for Today

• Why Advocacy?

• Key Principles of Success• Case Study at the University of Illinois• Q & A

Page 3: Alumni As Advocates

Challenges Facing Higher Education

• Increased pressure for limited state resources• Cost of Higher Education continues to rise

(health care and energy costs put a strain on budgets)

• Can’t continue to raise tuition to make up for funding cuts

Page 4: Alumni As Advocates

How do we Respond?

1. Denial

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

Page 5: Alumni As Advocates

How do we Respond?

Engage Advocates

Not This Advocate These Advocates

Page 6: Alumni As Advocates

Why is Grassroots Advocacy?

• Legislators listen to their constituents• Achieve a balanced approach• Distribute messages to the community more

effectively• Create a human face• Build a sense of community• Avoid having messages filtered through the

media or campus interest groups

Page 7: Alumni As Advocates

Principles for Success

1. Think about the structure and staffing– Where should the program be housed– Staff/consultant– Grasstops vs. Grassroots

2. How to create buy-in– Campus leadership must be supportive– Demonstrate success– Engage campus leadership to interact with

advocates

Page 8: Alumni As Advocates

Principles for Success

3. Use technology to cast a wide net– E-mail is an easy way to generate a lot of contacts

with elected officials– Begin communicating regularly

4. Conduct targeted outreach to alumni with influence– These contacts are harder to get

Page 9: Alumni As Advocates

Website is your hub

Page 10: Alumni As Advocates

Principles for Success

5. Develop a plan– Necessary to keep all the actors in sync– Develop a message arc

6. Message matters– Must be compelling– Develop a theme that people will understand

Page 11: Alumni As Advocates

Create a Theme

Page 12: Alumni As Advocates

Principles for Success

7. Create a grassroots committee– Engage all stakeholders– Will help create buy-in and ownership

8. Evaluate your program regularly– Survey supporters– Visit with key stakeholders

Page 13: Alumni As Advocates

More Information

Visit – www.TippingPointStrategies.org

[email protected]