Session on Alumni Engagement and Fundraising delivered at Alumni Relations Conference at American Embassy School in 19 September 2015

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Alumni Engagement &
FundRaising
Mr. Deepit Gupta – FuturEd
Ms. Jennifer Barnes Eliot – American Embassy School

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What do we need to have in place for
Alumni Engagement?

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Fully Functional Alumni Office
Alumni Data : We need to have latest data and
professional information about our Alumni Network to
engage them in an organized fashion.
Regular Communication: We need to have official Alumni
communication channels in place to know Alumni Preferences
and build a strong connection with them.
HR: We need to have a team in place to strategize, plan and
organize various Alumni Engagement Programs and activities
on a periodic basis.

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Alumni Engagement
“ It is important to engage with Alumni in a constructive and meaningful
manner which in turn creates some value for Alumni, the current students
or the faculty.”
What programs does
the school run for
their student
Development?
How can the school use
its existing Resources for
its growth and
development?
Can we use
Alumni to Bridge
this Gap ?

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• Alumni-Alumni and
Alumni-student
Relationship
• Alumni – Staff
Relationship
• School not having
to look beyond its
Alumni Network to
procure any
product/service
• Alumni having access
to School Resources
• Alumni Mentoring and
Counseling the
students
• Alumni contributing in
Personal and
Vocational
Development of
students
• School
Highlighting
Alumni
Achievements
• Participation and
Contribution by
Alumni
A sense of
Capability
A sense of
Purpose
A sense of
Resourcefulnes
s
A Sense of
Connectedness
Building Alumni Culture

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Building an Engaged
Alumni Community
Alumni
Leaders
Alumni Volunteers
Participate in programs,
events, batch reunions and
giving
Read communications; will say and
do good things for the school;
attend some events; may or may
not give funds
Positive attitude towards the school but not
actively involved.
Not satisfied with the quality of education they
received or how they were treated. No sense of
belonging. Do not participate.
Develop
Convert

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Alumni Engagement
Alumni
to
Alumni
• Re-unions, get
togethers
• Regional and national
alumni chapters
• Alumni groups on
Social Media
(Facebook, Linkedln)
• Share your stories,
pictures, videos,
articles
Alumni
to
Students
• Adhoc campus visits
• Guest lectures
• Mentorship programs
• Experiential Learning
• Informational
Interactions
• Career Insights
Alumni
to
Faculty
• Knowledge delivery
• Targeted skills training
• Involvement in
academic delivery

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An example - Mentorship Program
Objectives:
• Offering students a healthy communication
channel for guidance and support.
• Enabling students to communicate with people with
similar interests and knowledge.
• Motivate and inspire students

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Mentorship Program
Students
(Faculty & Grade 9, 10,
11, 12)
How can I get better
insight into this topic?
Is there somebody
who has done what I
want to do?
Guest lectures on
specific topics.
Open a communication
channel with alumni in a
similar field or with similar
interests.
Alumni
Value:
Decision Making
Taking
Responsibility
Verbal
Communication
Building Self-
Confidence
Guidance

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Alumni Mentorship Program
Source: Vivek High School, Chandigarh

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Alumni Talks
Saanya Ojha, an alumnus of the batch
of 2012 was back in school on 21st
August to deliver a talk on Thinking
about Life after School as a part of the
Alumni Talks Program. Saanya
delivered her session for the students of
class 10, 11 and 12 highlighting the
challenges and common
misconceptions about studying abroad
and how to overcome them by following
the correct procedures and process of
application. She also shared her
experience about studying at the
Wharton Business School and how it
has helped her evolve and grow as a
person. The students got answers to a
lot of their questions and doubts and
further knowledge into what it means to
study abroad.
Source: Vivek High School, Chandigarh

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Alumni FundRaising

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Ways to Engage – Nice to See You Again,
Where’s the Cheque?
Giving of time, talent, treasure. It’s not just about making a donation. There are many ways to
engage alumni that are rewarding for the donor as well as the recipient institutions.
• Donating through an annual fund or capital campaigns
• Sponsoring research, student projects or courses
• Participating in service program
• Legacy gift – financial, property, or in-kind donation
• Participating in peer-to-peer fundraising,
• Let me introduce… looking to create new partnerships for the institution with
employers, governments and other affiliated organizations
• Expert advice and guidance to the school's leadership
• Supporting admissions through student recruitment
• Providing careers advice, mentoring, placements, internships to current students,
• Sharing talents to enhance the cultural life of campus through performances,
exhibitions, etc.
• Contributing to the positive online profile of the school.

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Fund Raising Modalities
• Annual Appeals & Legacy Giving
• Non-Profit Foundation Support
• Alumni Driven Scholarships & Projects
• Donations

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Source: Kodaikanal International School, Kodaikanal

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Source: Kodaikanal International School, Kodaikanal

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Source: Kodaikanal International School, Kodaikanal

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Source: Kodaikanal International School, Kodaikanal

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Activity
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