Camp Alumni Outreach

Ideas for reconnecting with summer camp alumni. Managed by JCamp 180 (www.jcamp180.org).

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Good post from Andy Shaindlin re: trends in Community engagement that are particularly relevant for alumni outreach.

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From TASSL:

3 things your alumni engagement strategy needs now:

http://blog.tassl.com/3-things-your-alumni-engagement-strategy-needs-now/

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Looking to read up on alumni relations?

Here are 5 studies on alumni giving and engagement you can start with:

https://switchboardhq.com/blog/5-articles-on-alumni-giving-and-engagement-to-review-in-2017

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What can alumni relations learn from public radio?

https://switchboardhq.com/blog/what-alumni-relations-advancement-can-learn-from-public-radio

This article is focused on higher education, but the lessons can help camps as well. 

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How are you reaching your alumni and other potential donors? Do you REALLY know what they are interested in and who is most engaged with your communications, including social media? 

This article and broadcast from WGBH discusses new ways colleges are trying to better “know” their alumni and other prospects and then modify their development efforts as a result.

http://blogs.wgbh.org/on-campus/2017/1/10/reach-potential-donors-colleges-embrace-new-software/

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These Alumni Benefits Aren’t “Lame.” 

According to a survey of alumni and advancement professionals at colleges and universities of all sizes, three benefits are considered the most engaging:

1)  Digital Communication (Blog/Social Media/e-Newsletter)

2)  Clubs, Chapters and Reunions

3)  Career Services/Networking

Are these relevant for your camp as well?

For more information about these benefits, read the full article: http://blog.alumniaccess.com/the-3-highest-rated-not-lame-alumni-benefits

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How do you engage your young alumni? 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-your-youngest-alumni-want-you-know-sarah-bender

Although this article focuses on colleges and universities, the tips are valuable for camps as well.

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“How do we make sure that other, more powerful industry networks don’t deliver more value for our alumni?”

Ryan Catherwood posed this question recently re: alumni outreach in this short article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ask-alumni-build-networks-reward-them-ryan-catherwood

His solution at Longwood University? Formally incentivize networking among alumni. Check out the type of networking activities they promote and incentivize on their website here: http://www.longwood.edu/alumni/1-hour-a-month-volunteer-program/#d.en.62327

How can your camp incentivize connections among alumni to help make the camp alumni network one of their go-to professional and personal networks?

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Many camps are struggling to connect with their young alumni. This article - while focused on college alumni - has some good tips to help you think through your engagement strategy.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-your-youngest-alumni-want-you-know-sarah-bender

What are your best tactics for engaging young alumni?

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Need help engaging your young alumni? This article provides some good tips. It is geared toward colleges and universities, but most of the tips could apply to camps as well.

http://storiedu.com/engage-young-alumni/

What is your best tip for engaging young alumni?

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Most camps are (or should be!) looking for ways to engage their young alumni. This article from CASE provides tips for how to start a Young Alumni Council. While focused on colleges, the tips could easily translate to camp.

https://blog.case.org/2016/08/11/young-alumni-councils-how-to-start-one-manage-it-unlock-its-magic/

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In this article from Alumni Access, Gary Toyn makes the point that Alumni relations professionals require specific skills to be successful. 

http://blog.alumniaccess.com/the-art-of-winging-it-in-alumni-relations

Like the amateur artist who “restored” the fresco shown here, many alumni professionals are generalists. It’s important for organizations to advocate for professional development for anyone working in alumni outreach. This could mean attending conferences or webinars, or receiving other specialized training.

Does your organization promote professional development for your staff?

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How can your camp connect alumni memories with fundraising? Amherst College recently launched an #AlwaysAmherst campaign asking for alums to tell them about a place on campus they love. With a gift during June, a student photographer will take a photo and email it to the donor/alum. The campaign was sent via postcard and is very prominent on Twitter and other social channels.

Would this type of campaign work at camp? What might you do differently?

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How is your organization using Snapchat to engage with Alumni? 

The University of Nebraska has created and promoted custom snapchat filters for students and alumni alike.

https://twitter.com/TylerAThomas/status/737624650901946369

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Camp Tawonga is working hard to engage its young alumni. It recently launched a Young Alumni Board. Their role?

“Through their board work, members advise Tawonga on issues related to alumni engagement, plan alumni events in the community, liaise with Tawonga’s Board of Directors and gain leadership skills.”

Does your camp offer opportunities to alumni to help with your alumni engagement efforts and grow personal skills? 

Learn more about Tawonga’s Young Alumni Board here:

http://tawonga.org/alumni/youngalumniboard/

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Is your camp nurturing efforts your Alumni make to reconnect with each other and with camp? 

This is a great example of how Camp Ramah in the Berkshires and Reshet Ramah helped self-organizing alumni build connections year-round with the Ramah Berkshires Alumni Association basketball league (RBA). And this effort has grown into something much bigger than hoops.

http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/grassroots-alumni-basketball-league-celebrates-20-years-of-nurturing-the-camp-community-year-round/

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JCamp 180 just held a competition - #KnowledgeCenterKnockout - to find out the most useful resource on our website. You can find the top 16 resources involved in the competition on our website: http://jcamp180.org/knowledge-center/knowledge-center-knockout.aspx

But what article won?

An alumni engagement article, of course! Check out the champion - “How to Write Alumni Profiles that Tell Your Story” - here: 

http://jcamp180.org/Knowledge-Center/Fundraising/Alumni-Outreach/How-To-Write-Alumni-Profiles-That-Tell-Your-Story.aspx