Summer Institute for Alumni Relations Pre-Institute Sessions-It’s About More Than Just a Good Time

It’s About More Than Just a Good Time - ROI and Meaningful Events

Pdf Summary

This document discusses the importance of programming and events in engaging constituents and building relationships. The session emphasizes knowing the purpose and objective of events, setting SMART goals, striving for a sense of belonging for all attendees, anticipating obstacles and being willing to adapt, and recognizing the importance of post-event communication and reporting.<br /><br />The document also highlights the various motivations for participating in alumni and donor events, such as connecting with former classmates, giving back, and impacting the community. It suggests considerations before selecting a venue, including accessibility and technological needs. It emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of belonging by accommodating dietary needs, accessibility considerations, and creating a space for commonalities.<br /><br />The document discusses leveraging keepsakes and connecting with traditions to enhance the sense of belonging. It also recognizes the challenges of getting attendees to participate, such as busy schedules, distance from the venue, and poor past experiences. It emphasizes the importance of coordination with campus partners and adaptability in delivering content and engagement opportunities.<br /><br />The document emphasizes the importance of measuring the return on investment (ROI) for events and provides a checklist to evaluate the success of an event. It suggests having the right people in the room, including senior administration, trustees, students, community partners, and alumni affinity. It encourages starting the conversation about investment with data and benchmarking against other institutions. It advises clearly defining the expected return and adjusting accordingly.<br /><br />Overall, the document highlights the key takeaways from the session, including knowing the purpose and objective, setting SMART goals, creating a sense of belonging, anticipating obstacles, and emphasizing the post-event planning and reporting. It provides contact information for the session leaders if there are further questions or inquiries.

Keywords

programming

events

engaging constituents

building relationships

SMART goals

sense of belonging

post-event communication

reporting

alumni events

donor events