alumni relations: stepping it up! february 10, 2009 showcasing our success barbara w. currier,...

Alumni Relations: Stepping It Up!

February 10, 2009

Showcasing Our SuccessBarbara W. Currier, Director, Foundation and Alumni AffairsNorth Carolina Community College Systemwww.nccommunitycolleges.edu 919-807-7101

Louise K. Mathews, Vice President, College Advancement & Executive Director, CCC Foundation, [email protected] 252-222-6262

http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/

mailto:[email protected]

North Carolina Community Collegeswww.nccommunitycolleges.edu

58 Colleges Creating Success Across North Carolina

NCCCS “Community”

58 community colleges serving all 100 counties

Different: local needs, local programs Same: mission to provide high-quality

education in order to improve lives and well-being of individuals



What I do

Five areas: Alumni Programs Investment Strategies and Options Board Development Planned Giving Web Presence and e-philanthropy


Fifty-eight Institutions Creating Success for North Carolina

Components of Comprehensive Resource Development Program

Clear Mission Involved board

who can articulate mission

Institutional commitment

Strong staff with longevity

Annual funding strategy

Successful signature events

Endowment/investment strategies

Full engagement of donor constituencies, including alumni

Operational planning giving program



Full Engagement of Donor Constituencies, including Alumni

Who are your donor constituencies? For community colleges, it’s been local businesses, individuals, trustees, Foundation Directors, civic organizations, employees, industries. Alumni – this group has not been fully engaged. We are concentrating our efforts to establish alumni programs at all 58 community colleges in North Carolina.



What the Research Says…

Patty Herbin, Senior Consultant with Performa, Inc., partnering with CRD, conducted a national study on community college alumni relations programs. --Status of Alumni Development in America’s

Community Colleges New Century Series Resource Paper #12 www.crdnet.org




Mark Milliron, Editor of “Successful Approaches to Fundraising and Development,” describes alumni giving in this way….. New Directions for Community Colleges,

124, winter 2003; Jossey-Bass.




Karen M. McArthur, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at Delta College in Michigan, says that they are making a concentrated effort to re-energize their small alumni-relations program.

“Community Colleges Struggle When it Comes to Soliciting Private Donations.” Chronicle of Higher Education, Feb. 10, 2006,



Accomplishments

2006 14 colleges 35,014 alums Minimal

engagement Some benefits

2009 22 colleges 289,751 alums More engagement

Expanded benefits



Piedmont Community CollegeAlumni Partnership

Patti Clayton

Coordinator, Alumni Relations and Financial Coordinator, PCC Foundation

Roxboro, North Carolina Total Enrollment: 9,152




Important to have an employee dedicated to alumni development (half time – moved to 75% time)

Defining alumni Word-of-mouth ways to get people

involved Build internal support Advisory Group




Partnership vs. association Partnering with community

organizations Promoting alumni development through

projects on campus Advocacy Scholarship fund



Piedmont Community CollegeAlumni Partnership - Future

Promote ownership – volunteer on projects on campus

Testimonials on website Developing brochures Informative “Did you know” e-mails Phonathan Alumni month - exam break for students Registration and orientation



CCC & TI TRIO Alumni Group

Alice Lentz

Director of TRIO ProgramsCaldwell CC & TI

Hudson, North Carolina Total Enrollment: 15,646




Established program Sept. 2004 Goals:

To establish an scholarship endowment

Welcome committee for each semester

Mentoring program Annual reunion




Sept. 2007 – Alumni Scholarship reaches $2,500

Presentations at NCCCS Conference and NC CORD

Established student emergency fund Recycling printer cartridges Established a book fund Instilled culture of giving in TRIO

students



Central Piedmont Community College

Mary K. Collin

[email protected]

Coordinator of Research and Alumni

Relations Charlotte, North Carolina Total Enrollment: 59,669




Alumni program focused on fund raising

3 year old program42,000 names on alumni mailing list - started with 17,000 name list scrubbed by Wealth Engine – 2 mailings each year

Central Piedmont Community College



Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC

Alumni effort totally supported by CPCC Foundation

Strategic initiative to build donors: 5 years – cover cost of mailings 10 years – Alumni program should pay

for itselfWithin next five years, have development

officers making personal calls with alumni donors.




Create culture of giving Call every alumni donor personally to

thank for gift Showcase Alumni success on college

TV program When mailing to re-acquaint with

alums, ask for business card – people want to brag about what they have accomplished




Most engaged alumni are those who went on to a four-year college

Alumni ask why it took so long for CPCC to ask for money

“Ego Massage” – let them tell their stories, how much CPCC meant to their success



Central Piedmont Community College - Future plans

Create an Alumni Hall of Fame Recognize employee alums – create

a core group of alumni to attend events

Offer more benefits Targeting 65 + year old people who

have taken classes (for free) Speak to active current student

groups



2,200 Credit Students6500 + Continuing Education StudentsEstimate 10,000 alumni graduates

Carteret Community College

Mary SchronceDevelopment Coordinator252-222-6143



College Advancement

CCC Foundation

All Fund raising

Alumni

Grants Development

Boat Donation/Resale Program

Carteret CC Advancement



Carteret Community College Foundation, Inc.

The mission of the CarteretCommunity College Foundation,Inc. is to provide comprehensivecommunity support and

resourcesfor Carteret Community College.



Carteret’s Foundation has focused on programs and acquisition of real property

Carteret Community College Foundation, Inc.



1999 – 2000 attempt at starting alumni

association focused on collegealumni employees and mass mailings.One half of addresses were bad

Carteret Community College



Carteret: Alumni Link began in 2006

Reassigned Development Coordinator’s duties to include alumni

Hired Development Associate to take over database and clerical duties



Carteret’s Alumni Link

Recruit & offer incentives to join at graduation

Events focused 568 good addresses; 50 active alums Starting program chapters



Carteret: New Directions

Virtual Alumni groups – FacebookEncourage faculty excitementOnline newsletters, storiesMentoringEngage studentsAward for outstanding alums –

attract older alums



Carteret’s Future

•Advisory Board•Greater visibility on College website•Overcome barriers between Registrar’s office and Foundation office•Develop alumni fund raising



Holyoke Community College, Holyoke MA

Joanna Brown

Director of Alumni RelationsHolyoke Community College,

Holyoke, MA 01040 [email protected] 413-552-2253




Holyoke CC, Massachusetts

Ten Steps to Building a Successful Alumni Association at a Community College – first step is “Include alumni fund raising in the mission and the by-laws of the alumni association. “



Holyoke CC continued

Create a realistic plan and budget; Focus on the long-term payback to your

institution Purchase adequate software & training Update and screen your alumni data Create a strong case for giving-Brown, J. (2002). Ten Steps to Building a Successful Alumni

Association at a Community College, Council for Resource Development website

---Brown, J. (2006) Phonathon-Based Alumni Fund Raising , Presentation. CRD Conference 2006.



Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC

Alumni involvement in successful bond

Link to alumni pages on College website



Benefits – discounts at local businesses

Links on Alumni page to continuing education and transcripts

Distinguished alumniAlumni news

Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC



Strategic Planning A disciplined approach to alumni

relations starts with your strategic plan.

Review where you are now Determine where you want to be Establish measurable goals you want

to achieve in your alumni relations program in the next 3-5 years



Keys to Success

Planning and Organization Institutional Commitment – budget,

staffing Involved Group Marketing The Community

Alumni Relations: Stepping It Up!!

February 10, 2009

Showcasing Our SuccessBarbara W. CurrierDirector, Foundation and Alumni AffairsNorth Carolina Community College System Conference

[email protected] 919-807-7101




Alumni Relations: Stepping It Up!!

Questions… Comments… Discussion!

alumni relations: stepping it up! february 10, 2009 showcasing our success barbara w. currier,...

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