This document outlines UNC Charlotte's efforts to build a non-dues based alumni membership program called PERKS to improve engagement. The program offers discounts and benefits to alumni through partnerships with local businesses. It is led by the alumni board and aims to collect updated alumni data and provide value to members. Since launching in November, the program has gained over 3,000 members, collected 18,000 new data points, and generated hundreds of leads for business partners, showing early signs of success in engaging alumni without charging dues.

1. Building a Non-Dues Based
Membership Program That Gets
Results
Lynne M. Wester
UNC Charlotte
Donor Relations Guru
@donorguru

2. UNC Charlotte
• Founded in 1946
• 27,900 Students
• 113,000 Degreed Alumni
• 400,000+ Non Degreed Alumni
• 7.5 Alumni Staff- No, SERIOUSLY
• Lack of engagement and a data problem

3. The Problem:

4. The Concept:
• Updated Contact Information
• Engage Alumni (80% live within three
counties)
• Build Business Community
• Provide Value

5. PERKS Program
• Board led effort
• No Separate 501c3
• Lofty goals
• Tangible ROI
• Metrics based program

7. How to Stretch Yourself

8. Benchmarking Poll
• Who Else Doesn’t Charge Dues?
• Are You looking to move away from dues
based?

9. Data Collection Made Easy

10. The Benefits of Membership:
• $5 off at every alumni event
• Discounts on Continuing Education
• Discounts with more than 75 partners
• FREE Career Webinars (TalentMarks)
• Priority entry to events

11. The Cards

12. The APP

15. The Businesses

16. Advertising

17. Digital Billboards

22. Welcome letter

23. Success- Looks like-

24. Businesses
• Over 75 Established Partners
• 85% managed or owned by Alumni
• 400 plus warm leads generated by board
members and volunteers
• Adding 5-8 businesses a month
• Huge revenue driver for the businesses

25. Everyone is in the game…

26. Data Collection
• Over 3000 members
• Over 18,000 new data points collected since
November
• Continual address updates and information
streaming into central database

28. THANK YOU!
• @donorguru
• www.donorrelationsguru.com
• lynnewester@uncc.edu