Resource:How to engage alumni and secure funds to support your change efforts on campus

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How To Engage Alumni & Secure Funds To Support Your Change Efforts On Campus

So you have a project to create change in your community but you don't know how to get your school alumni on board? College alumni can be a big help and support system when it comes to getting your projects up and running. We spoke to UIF alum, Rodolfo Romañach, who now works with Stellup.com, a startup that connects alumni with their universities' need for crowdfunding. He said that most alumni love to help out their university, especially when they are engaged with their industry. They want to give back to their community by providing resources (not just money) and help the future of their industries. This wiki will explain the various ways that you can engage this want that alumni have with the needs your project will face.


Introduction

Firstly, your funders should know exactly what your project is. The more specific you can be with statistics, figures, and plans, the better. They want to see that you have plan and in a way, your funders want to see that you're gonna do it with or without their help. If they really want to invest in your project, consider making them part of your advisory board too. Giving them stake in your project(s) will always increase the likelihood they will be more involved. Don't be afraid of your funders because this is your plan. If anything, they should be there to help you. "Never have fear," said Romañach, "just do it."


Budget Research

As you approach your project, event, or club that you are attempting to gain funding for, you should create a budget to understand how much funding is necessary to receive. When starting, it may be tempting to make your budget the amount in which you can afford everything you want for your project or club to make it the best it can be, however, it is better to start small. You should first ask “what is the minimum amount of funds needed to create a viable project?” To reach this conclusion, make a list of the materials that are essentialto the project, event, or club. For example, if you were raising funding for a STEM makerspace, you may deem a 3D printer necessary for a successful, viable makerspace that students will use. The funds for 3D printer are then included in the minimum budget. As you reach your minimum budget, you may continue to raise and allot funds but it is important to be conservative on budget estimates. Start with the essentials for your project, club, or event and then work your way up from there.

When determining the budget, it is important to work with the faculty and administration of your school, the alumni who you will be seeking for funds, and the people that the club, event, or project is intended for to get a better understanding of what is necessary to include.


Identification

When trying to identify alumni to reach out to and engage which, it’s important to first establish a list of alumni you know personally. If you personally don’t know many alumni or any at all, that’s okay. You can always check with your professors or friends to see if they know of alumni that would be interested in your project(s). Another good idea is to connect with your university’s alumni office in administration. Colleges keep extensive databases on their alumni that are valuable sources of information - you can work director with your school to strategically identify which alumni would be most appropriate to reach out to. Aim to have about 10-15 alumni on your original list of alumni to connect with. The more, the better. As time goes on, your own personal database of alumni will grow and expand.


Reaching Out

When reaching out to alumni, it’s important to remember they are very busy, so always be respectful of their time and their money. Remember, you are representing your university when you contact them, so it’s important to keep your emails professional, brief and easy to follow. If you have any any concerns about your messaging, check in with your faculty advisor, club advisor or with your university’s administration. They will appreciate your professionalism and initiative. When reaching out to alumni, email is usually best. If you want to spice up your email in a professional way to hopefully garner more interest, try gathering together some students and film a short and informative 3-minute video about you, your club or your projects and how they can help. Additionally, you can also include links to your club’s social media account page(s) and/or your club’s website to display your work and projects.



Staying In Touch

After reaching out to alumni, it is important to sustain your relationship with them. To stay in touch, make email lists that you continuously send information out to, generate newsletters to keep your alumni updated, and create social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). The more engaged you keep the alumni, the happier they will be and the more successful the development of your projects will be. You will always build a larger network of alumni and funders from doing so.


Support and Connections

When building your connections, it is important to constantly be networking. Everyone can become a part of your network, doing so will allow your network to continuously build and grow. Using people and groups that are already in your network such as professors/teachers and your school’s development offices will open up vast amounts of connections for your support. Faculty know of many alumni that have passed through the school and their involvements and your development office more than likely has a whole database of alumni to access. These two groups are key to creating a strong network of alumni. To build your support, you must communicate to those in your network. Keep active social media accounts or newsletters to keep everyone updated on your needs and projects.


Tips for Success

  • Always ensure transparency: alumni and funders should always know what their money is being used for.
  • Remember your main goals: 1) Find out who the alumni and funders are. 2) Engage the alumni and funders and cultivate a relationship with them. 3) Get the alumni and funders involved in the project, club, or event that you are using the funds for. 4) Involve the alumni and funders in fundraising efforts.
  • Your main obstacle is time: the fundraising process takes a lot of time, whether you’re making videos or planning fundraising events, so make sure to schedule activities early and clearly.
  • Measure the success of your projects: keep on-campus metrics and data to interest more potential funders and alumni to be involved in your project.
  • Start early, gain traction on your project, and collect stats to get more funding to expand the project.

Written By: Kelly_Rodriguez,  MaxwellBarnesDalton_Nelson, BcareyUST