The University of Oregon re-imagined donor engagement after realizing that future campaigns will suffer if we did not ramp up efforts to identify the next generation of donors now. With younger generations poised to inherit $73 trillion in the next twenty years, we recognized the need to increase pipeline activity, especially among regional communities.

As a result, we have created Strategic Engagement Officers that are housed within Development to bridge the gap between the Alumni Association and Development Officers, and to inspire prospects who are not engaged and/or stagnant in the donor pipeline.

We will delve into the strategies that led to being recognized with the 2022 Grand Gold in CASE’s Targeted Constituency Engagement category and the 2021 Gold in CASE VIII’s Alumni Relations Pivot category. We will also discuss how our tactics differ from teams outside of Development, how we work in partnership with the Alumni Association, and how we navigate internal relationships with schools and units, development officers and our colleagues around campus.

From conception, to trial and error, to momentum moving forward, learn how our engagement team has identified strategies to find new donors and strengthen the pipeline.