November is the month of gratitude. We give thanks to friends and family, invite them over for Thanksgiving and football, and ring in the holiday season together. We’re thankful for our education, too, and our alma maters know it. That’s why Giving Tuesday has played such an important role in college fundraising over the past few years. On Giving Tuesday, […]
Birthdays aren’t just about getting older. They’re a time to realize where we’ve been, what we’ve accomplished, and where we want to go. Not to mention, a time to celebrate. And, of course, higher education institutions have their own birthdays. From the 50-year semicentennials and 100-year centennials to the 125-year quasquicentennials and 150-year sesquicentennials, these milestone years […]
During a recent client campus visit, I had the opportunity to meet with the College’s advancement team. Just weeks before going public with their largest ever comprehensive campaign, the team was lamenting the untimely realization that the bulk of the College’s communications with its alumni were almost singularly focused on soliciting donations. Their concern, of course—an absolutely valid one—was that their alumni had grown fatigued, and maybe even disenchanted with their alma mater, feeling that all the College really cares about is the next donation.