“Participation” or “number of donors” ?

Builds a stronger base for the future. Vote of confidence and appreciation from alumni body. Increased donors and participation leads to increased

dollars, especially when donors are loyally engaged and well-versed in fundraising mission.

Lovely euphemism. Rankings.

MIT—mandate from the top

New president loves “participation” and wants the result to match the enthusiasm from alumni she observes.

MIT Annual Fund changes its focus to “participation” and “unrestricted”

MIT—public goals

Volunteer Fund Board set specific “participation” goals in addition to “number of donors.”

MIT—direct marketing

Integrated marketing campaignMore effective segmentation (with targeted

messaging based on loyalty, leadership, timing of last gift, age & stage)

MIT—volunteer support

Increased volunteerismNew volunteer tools allow for more volunteers

and more effective activity Challenges Events Inspiration from successful student and young

alumni campaigns

MIT—tailoring messages

MITAA President, Fund Board chairs tailor messages to volunteer community vs. all-alumni

Encouragement for alumni to join the “quiet revolution”

PDA for successful classes http://giving.mit.edu/participation/ug/news/i

ndex.html

What’s your pitch?

What’s your pitch to volunteers? To major donors? To joe donor? To major gifts staff regarding “hands off ” prospects?

Thank you

IVY + 2010

RAISING PARTICIPATION

IN THE

“NON-REUNION YEARS”

Cathy Weber, Princeton

Tim Poisson, MIT

IVY + 2010

Raising Participation in the “Non-Reunion Years”

Building Momentum

Communicating

What will you get your Valentine?A. FlowersB. CandyC. JewelryD. Other

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Momentum: how to get it… and how to keep it

Pre-major reunion

Post-major reunion

Generating interest and urgency

• The Participation “Challenge” - A call to action

What’s the difference between your Major and Non-Major Participation?A. < 5%B. 5-10%C. >10%

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Momentum: how to get it… and how to keep it

During a current campaign:

• Using a challenge to encourage urgency and action

• Creating short term goals and deadlines

In the planning stage:• Pre-reunion classes – building excitement, screenings

• Post-reunion classes-building on success, carry-over volunteers

How many off-year classes does a Frontliner cover?A. NoneB. 1-4C. 5 +

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One Month Challenge

CLASS BASED COMPETITION

BASED ON NUMBER OF GIFTS OVER PREVIOUS YEAR

RUN IN 5 YEAR SEGMENTS AND OVERALL WINNER

CLASS Current %Last Year April

30

∆DELTA Percent Part. From last

yearCurrent donors

TOTAL Donorsneeded for Goal

Delta Donors Needed

Perfects and

LYBUNT

APRIL 1st

Donors

1988 34.5% 34.4% 0.1% 389 676 287 568 251

1989 38.0% 31.1% 6.9% 427 674 247 373 293

1990 32.8% 30.3% 2.5% 372 589 217 410 240

1991 32.7% 31.7% 1.0% 366 594 228 424 254

1992 37.6% 26.8% 10.8% 422 617 195 453 251

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Screenings

Who? All classmates in NYC or Bay Area

What? Fun Dinner Meeting

When? 1 ½ to 2 years before the major

Where? University Club or private dining room

How? Invitation from Class Agent

Why?

• Recruit volunteers for non-major and major years

• Create enthusiasm and connections

• Screen prospects

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How are you communicating?

Who is communicating?

• Volunteers? Administrators? Students

What are you saying?

• The method (strategy, timing and content)

How are you saying it?

• The means (letters, email, social media, etc.)

How do you currently communicate in the off years?A. Through VolunteersB. Through AdministrationC. Through Students

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What are you saying? When are you saying it?

Strategy• How do you segment donors and who will communicate the message

Timing

• Frequency and method of contact

Content- Tone• Humor and honesty are better received than deceit, shame or guilt

• Age, class identity and pop culture are what volunteers have in common with otherwise anonymous classmates

• Everyone needs a reminder, most need three or more

• Few people read past the first three lines (or your Outlook preview)

• An interesting beginning keeps them reading

• Make sure it looks easy and worthwhile to do

• Giving is a gift not an obligation, express your gratitude for their gifts

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Sample Participation E-mail from Class Volunteer

From the Home Office of the 20th Reunion Annual Giving Participation Chair

An anonymous alum has put up a $25,000 bounty to the class that brings in the most number of new gifts during the month of April. The challenge is for number of DONORS not the number of dollars.

The Class of 1989 needs your help for 30 days in April. We have hundreds of classmates who have not yet donated this year. We can totally get this prize. DUDE, I’m serious.

Start by making a donation yourself, or patting yourself on the back if you have already done it. Next, call 10 of your friends and ask them if they are going to reunions, how their kids are doing or what the weather is like, AND if they can make a simple gift to Princeton in April.

Remember we are going for numbers of DONORS. Any size donation helps!The more donors the better

Ten calls in 30 days to people you already know. Sounds too simple, doesn’t it?

Princeton has a cool tool to help prevent us all from calling the same ten people. It will even provide you with other’s phone numbers if you can’t find them yourself. Give me a shout and I will set you up.

“Why should I give?” is what I sometimes here. Read the attachment for why I give. Perhaps it will strike a chord with you and your friends as well.

Here's how to give (also simple).https://makeagift.princeton.edu/

Thanks,David OgdenSeattle, Washington

Int’g beginning

HonestyHumor

Easy to do

Gratitude

Age and identity

Easy to do

Easy to do

IVY + 2010

How are you communicating?

Letters/E-mail

• type, frequency, who signs?

• “Asking” or “Informing”

Social media

What percentage of ALL alumni are on FaceBook?A.10%B. 20%C. 29%D. 40%

IVY + 2010

Princeton Pause