10 Ways to Build and Sustain Meaningful Donor & Alumni Relationships-Slides

Slides

Pdf Summary

The document outlines key insights and practical strategies from a session titled “10 Ways to Build and Sustain Meaningful Donor & Alumni Relationships,” presented by Karen Bruns of Stellenbosch University and leaders from CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education). It emphasizes building deep, sustainable relationships with donors and alumni to advance institutional goals.<br /><br />Key strategies divide into five tips each for alumni-donors and donors. For alumni, tips include fostering a sense of belonging (highlighted through initiatives like Stellenbosch's Homecoming), personalizing communication via segmented newsletters and storytelling, demonstrating impact through balanced reporting, creating involvement pathways such as peer-to-peer fundraising and volunteering, and celebrating shared history and future through documentary projects.<br /><br />For donors, advice stresses listening before asking to build trust and align passions, tailoring stewardship with structured donor circles and personalized gratitude, keeping promises by applying transparency and using funds as intended, purposefully re-engaging lapsed donors through respectful, relevant communication, and framing giving as partnership, positioning donors as co-investors in solving challenges in areas like medical research and entrepreneurship.<br /><br />The document also describes CASE’s role in supporting advancement professionals globally through professional development including conferences, webinars, mentoring, and resources on fundraising, alumni engagement, communications, and data-driven decision-making. It highlights networking benefits, career support, and access to standards and benchmarking research.<br /><br />Overall, the emphasis is on relationship-building anchored in respect, personalization, transparency, and partnership. Institutions are encouraged to implement these strategies to foster a culture of philanthropy and sustain impactful donor/alumni engagement that drives institutional success and community involvement.

Keywords

Donor relationships

Alumni engagement

Fundraising strategies

Personalized communication

Peer-to-peer fundraising

Donor stewardship

Transparency in fundraising

CASE professional development

Philanthropy culture

Institutional advancement