Departments & TEams / Engagement
Recognition and timing are the cornerstones of engagement.
Most outreach still runs on a calendar: the same newsletter, the same invite, sent to everyone at once. The moments that reach someone rarely land on a schedule; connecting with them starts with knowing who someone is today, not who they were at graduation.
WHY IT MATTERS
Data-driven engagement
Institutions count emails delivered, events hosted, and gifts received. But alumni and donors care about something else entirely: whether anyone noticed their promotion, their move, their milestone.
Data-driven engagement and outreach that focuses on the moments that matter to your alumni as they happen - their new job, title, seniority, location - is more successful because it makes alumni feel seen by their institutions. And that in turn makes them 5x more likely to engage, volunteer, and give back.
MEET THE MOMENT
Timing is key
A promotion, a move, a milestone - each one opens a short window where an alum is most receptive to hearing from you. Wait too long and the moment passes: the congratulations feel late, the invitation feels routine, the ask feels random.
Timing isn't a nice-to-have. It's what turns an average touchpoint into one that actually lands.
SOLVE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
Build authentic relationships with your alumni & donors.
Congratulate
Congratulate your alumni on a promotion or new role shortly after it happens, ideally within 60 days. It’s true engagement that asks for nothing, makes the alum feel seen and leads to a genuine moment of connection.
Celebrate
Find alumni with notable titles, fast- growing companies, or interesting careers to feature in newsletters, on social, or on the website: real examples of where a degree lead. It's uplifting for the alum and inspiring for everyone else.
Upgrade your invite list
Invite alumni beyond the same familiar faces. Segment by industry, interest, or location to find people you might have missed. And don't forget the power of virtual events that reach those who could never make it in person.
Match for mentorship
Match current students with alumni working in the industries they're headed toward. It's a low-effort way for an alum to give back, and it's one of the most reliable ways to keep them engaged with the university long after graduation.
Ryan Buckley
Director of Development / AVP Customer Success
Florida Southern College
- Michael Iris
Former AVP of Alumni Relations & Career Services, Berkeley College
Now VP of Advancement & Communications, Centenary University
Rick Houston
Senior Director of Advancement Services
Gordon College
Daniel Wood
Director of Information Technology
University of Alabama System
Nancy Blattel
Data Management, University Development & Alumni Relations (retd.)
University of California Berkeley
Bety Tellez
Content & Campaigns Officer
Queen Margaret University
Frequently asked questions
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