From the Nominator

The University of Miami's Office of Engagement aims to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with alumni, parents, and friends. Across the country, 40 volunteer-led ’Canes Communities are governed by the University of Miami Alumni Association. Overseen by the Regional Engagement staff, these communities develop local networks through programming and peer-to-peer engagement. But the communities had untapped potential due to inconsistent programming, lack of leadership succession, and inadequate data. Regional engagement officers were spending more time on volunteer management than on pipeline development. To address these challenges, the Regional Volunteer Engagement Initiative was launched. Our strategy included the following: 1) Unifying regional volunteer experiences, deploying best practices, and developing a system of accountability by transferring a full-time regional engagement officer to the Volunteer Leadership Team; 2) Focusing efforts on the top 10 ’Canes Communities with the greatest growth potential and expanding other high-potential alumni markets; 3) Prioritizing regional engagement across national volunteer boards, aligning national volunteer activities, and differentiating responsibilities by board; 4) Identifying volunteer relationships nationwide to strengthen our network and picking program sponsorships and speakers; 5) Using strategies to improve peer-to-peer outreach; and 6) Enhancing social media channels, particularly LinkedIn and Instagram, to reach individuals not engaged through email. Since June 2023, the Regional Volunteer Engagement Initiative has accelerated relationship building and pipeline development; aligned volunteer goals; built a national network of volunteers; streamlined volunteer experiences; enhanced volunteer impact; and significantly advanced our mission.

From the Judges

The University of Miami’s program stood out for its strategic approach to volunteer management and engagement. It demonstrated strong alignment between national and regional boards and focused on refining roles, responsibilities, and leadership buy-in. Integrating virtual programming and peer-to-peer outreach led to a more connected, proactive volunteer network. At the same time, the team’s emphasis on training, capacity building, and leadership succession through structured board roles and guidebooks demonstrated a long-term commitment to sustainability. Adapting event strategies for high engagement and targeted follow-up further exemplified the program’s success in creating deeper connections. We felt this model could be easily adapted to other institutions.