Pam Russell
director of communications
CASE
+1-202-478-5680
russell@case.org

May 15, 2012

CASE Releases Survey Results on Evolving Alumni

WASHINGTON, D.C.-A CASE survey on alumni relations programmes outside of North America reveals that frequent communications via e-newsletters and alumni magazines and more holiday excursions can increase the number of donors for these institutions.

An analysis of data from the international survey builds a statistical picture of which alumni services and activities are associated with greater success. The measures of success, as defined by alumni relations professionals serving on a CASE steering group, were the numbers of attendees at events, volunteers and donors.

Nearly 75 institutions from 10 countries took part in the 2012 International CASE Alumni Relations Survey, which was first launched in 2007. The respondents are at different stages of programme maturity, which affects their capabilities and offerings.

Other key findings:

• To increase attendees at events, alumni relations staff need to put on more events and connect with potential attendees via email or e-newsletters.
• Investing in communications, both print and online, positively impacts donor numbers.
• Alumni relations operations pay off in terms of donors overtime, not immediately.
• Staff, budget and time spent developing programmes and hosting events build relationships with attendees, volunteers and donors that lead to success.

Rachel Dyson, chair of the ICARS analysis group, notes that the data demonstrates that it takes time to develop a successful alumni relations programme.

"But given time and investment, it is possible to create a successful programme that delivers tangible results for your institution," she says.

About CASE

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.

CASE was founded in 1974 and maintains headquarters in Washington, D.C., with offices in London (CASE Europe, 1994), Singapore (CASE Asia-Pacific, 2007) and Mexico City (CASE América Latina, 2011).

Today, CASE’s membership includes more than 3,600 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools, and nonprofit organizations in 76 countries around the globe. This makes CASE one of the world’s largest nonprofit educational associations in terms of institutional membership. CASE serves more than 70,000 advancement professionals on the staffs of its member institutions and has more than 17,000 professional members on its roster.

To fulfill their missions and to meet both individual and societal needs, colleges, universities and independent schools rely on—and therefore must foster—the good will, active involvement, informed advocacy and enduring support of alumni, donors, prospective students, parents, government officials, community leaders, corporate executives, foundation officers and other external constituencies.

CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with all of these constituencies by providing relevant research, supporting growth in the profession and fostering support of education. CASE also offers a variety of advancement products and services, provides standards and an ethical framework for the profession and works with other organizations to respond to public issues of concern while promoting the importance of education worldwide.

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