This document discusses the case for online alumni communities. It notes that changes in technology are transforming education from a 20th to 21st century model. It also discusses that alumni preferences have changed and they now want engagement opportunities more like social networks. Benefits of online communities include lower costs than traditional engagement methods, and they can bridge the engagement gap between what alumni want and institutional goals. Examples are also provided.

1. If You Build It, Will They Come?
The Case for Online Communities
May 22, 2014
TM
#alumnicommunity

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Pho3l
Rnyk
TM
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Engagement Highlight:
Show Us The Love!
Santa Barbara City College

3. Welcome
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4. Change Is Coming
Changes prompted by the nexus (mobile, cloud, social & data)
are setting the stage for transforming the education
environment from a 20th-century mindset to a 21st-century
paradigm.
Predicts 2014: Technology Drives Education Toward Transformation
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5. Getting Started
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@360Alumni
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6. About Me
#alumnicommunity
Megan Reile
Client Services
360Alumni

7. The Engagement Gap
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8. The Engagement Gap
A chalkboard explanation
Alumni
Needs
Engagement Gap
Institutional
Goals
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9. Audience Preferences Changed
% of alumni that never visit
their website
360Alumni Primary Research Survey, June 2013
vs
% of alumni that would visit
their website
if it were more
like a social network
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10. Thought Leadership
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11. What Alumni Want
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12. Graditude
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13. Graditude
Glad You Chose Us;
Washington College
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-
y8beRv1OI

14. #alumnicommunity

15. Alumni-Driven Engagement
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16. Online Communities:
- Jenny Preece
Dean of IT
University of Maryland
4 Parts:
People, a shared purpose, policies
& computer systems
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17. Alumni Communities Make Sense
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18. New Business Models
“With the traditional funding streams withering away at
such great speed, academic institutions have to think about
not only how to cut cost, but, preferably, how to create new
revenue … they have to think about their business model.”
Gartner - Business Model Innovation
Examples In Education, Jan 2013
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19. Sources:
MailingJet
Gloccal
InspiredM.com
Average Cost Per Alumnus
Telemarketing
Direct Mail
Traditional Website
Online Community
$ .64
$.53
$.19
$.14
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20. Average Time to Get Up and Running
Telemarketing
Direct Mail
Traditional Website
Online Community
12 weeks
4 weeks
2 weeks
12 weeks
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21. Millennials & Giving
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22. Constituent Pyramid
Top Donors;
Very Engaged
Sweet Spot
Avg gift of $1,206
Increase
frequency
to 2x / yr:
Additional
$150,000
Increase
percentage to
15%:
Additional
$75K
Average gift of $50.
30,000 Alumni, 10% giving
-or-
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23. Connectivity Multipliers
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24. What About Social Networks?
Social Media Explained
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25. Online Communities
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26. Social Network Drawbacks
● Different objectives
● Too much noise
● Data is not yours
● Not a hub
● Won’t build your brand
● No integrated
fundraising
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27. No More “Various Vague Things”
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28. Benefits of Online Communities
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29. Online Communities Bridge the
Engagement Gap
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30. Examples
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31. TM
Thank you for attending!
Q&A
Megan Reile
Client Services
mreile@360alumni.com
716-239-1554
#alumnicommunity