Fundraising: Alumni Giving & Engagement Strategy

We are looking for a professional in the field of alumni engagement and giving to assist us with expanding our strategy to engage our alumni and increase their giving.

The project entails reviewing our current strategies and assisting us in developing an expanded alumni engagement and giving strategy. Our funding comes primarily from family foundations and individuals—many of whom are alums. We have been successful at individual fundraising but need to expand our current reach. We have not yet had the opportunity to work with someone who has experience with alumni outreach and engagement.

Our nonprofit organization has sponsored residential summer leadership development programs since 1946 with a 16-year hiatus (1997-2012). We do not have contact information for the majority of our alums, and we have low engagement with the ones with whom we are in touch. We are looking to increase our effectiveness at the moment we are in calls for action as our democracy is threatened. The EFC was founded in the wake of W.W. II, countering worldwide fascism, and constructed to prevent future authoritarian models and to prepare young people to be active and thoughtful citizens confronting injustice as a lifelong pursuit. The Encampment is non-partisan and encourages young people to develop their critical thinking and deepen their understanding of others coming from different communities than their own. The Encampment convenes a diverse group of young people coming from different cultural, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, the Encampment is currently not reaching the numbers it could if more funding was raised. Unlike many organizations, the Encampment has the potential to be sustained by individual donations. The alums whom we are in contact with have a very positive experience and refer to their summer program experience as life-changing.

We will provide our current analytics and strategies on alumni giving and engagement. We have active fundraising and alumni outreach committees that are making headway but need more guidance to expand and improve our outreach and strategies. We will bring the new strategies to each committee and integrate them into their planning and implementation. We will also review the new strategy with our board of directors who will also be a part of implementing the new strategies.