"Successful fundraising is built on relationships. However, higher education fundraising departments often underuse data about alumni who were connected to each other as students. We record student clubs, sports, and dorm affiliations, but do we analyze the relationships developed in these shared activities?
Caltech seized this opportunity by building a relationship recommender system and network map to identify alumni likely to have known each other while on campus. The resulting tool suggested relations based on student activities such as living in the same dorm or participating in a student club the same year. The dashboard helped surface previously unknown connections between engaged alumni and their unengaged peers. Fundraisers then used these relationships to create new strategies for connecting with wealthy alumni prospects.
Although the project was completed in a higher education context, the methods are applicable to any non-profit with groups who interact. The organization could look for connections among event attendees, volunteers, or membership societies."
From the Judges
The judges were impressed by the innovative use of data to engage with donors using their connection to the institution. This well-composed submission articulated well the defined goals and the success to-date. It is a replicable project that provides great meaning to our prospect's relationships data.
