Author Archives: Alumni Channel

The Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide | Idealware

With more than 750 million people signed up for Facebook alone, there’s little doubt that social media can be a powerful part of most organizations’ communications mix. But what can it be used for—outreach and engagement? Event management? Advocacy? How about fundraising? For many nonprofits, it’s far more obvious that such tools can be useful than how to use them.

Idealware created the Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide to help organizations like yours determine what results and benefits you can reasonably expect from social media, and to guide you through the process of identifying the right channels for different goals.

The Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide | Idealware.

Budget Sinking? Create a Foundation. | Scholastic.com

As budget cuts strain schools across the country, more districts are looking for ways to bring in the big bucks on their own. PTAs, PTOs, and booster clubs may make cash from car washes and catalog sales, but as an administrator, it’s time to think on a grander scale. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a million dollars for a technology initiative? How about half a mil for an arts program? This doesn’t have to be wishful thinking.

via Budget Sinking? Create a Foundation. | Scholastic.com.

Non-Profit Organization Websites: Increasing Donations and Volunteering | Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox

Summary:
Giving money on charity websites is 7% harder than spending money on e-commerce sites. Donating physical items is even harder. For non-profit websites, social media is secondary; the top priority is to write clearer content.

Non-Profit Organization Websites: Increasing Donations and Volunteering Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox.

Ann Arbor Alumni site connects district with graduates and friends | AAPSNews

From our client, the Ann Arbor Public Schools Education Foundation . . .

Site launched in the fall, new items added on daily basis

Are you an Ann Arbor Public Schools grad? Employee? Friend? All are welcome to visit and register at the new Ann Arbor alumni website, which has started to take off since its soft launch last fall.

Organizers at the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation, which makes the site possible, say although the site is still developing, they’re putting the word out so that anyone with an interest in district can find it, sign up and begin networking and finding their long-lost friends.

Ann Arbor Alumni site connects district with graduates and friends | AAPSNews.

Eight Organizations Try Out Alumni Channel

Alumni Channel would like to welcome the following eight organizations which began a free trial online alumni community in June and July.  Our trials run give organizations time to try our service, invite colleagues for feedback, add sample content, send e-mail blasts and sample all the features.  We welcome the following:

[Logo] The Chef’s Academy Alumni
Indianapolis, Indiana
[Logo] Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni
Carpinteria, California
[Logo] ZTA Alumnae
St. Louis, Missouri
[Logo] Swedish Institute Alumni
New York, New York
[Logo] New England Culinary Institute Alumni
Montpelier, Vermont
[Logo] Fremont College Alumni
Los Angeles, California
[Logo] Avonlea Primary School Alumni
Harare, Zimbabwe
[Logo] St. Matthew School Alumni
Edison, New Jersey

New Office Assistant Streamlining Operations

We asked our newest assistant to help you with your alumni relations projects.  (he said he would nail it.)  I am pleased to welcome Matt Gehringer to Alumni Channel.  For the past 5 months Matt has been hard at work learning the business from Dad.  From setting up free trials to training new site administrators, Matt brings a breath of fresh air into our operations.  Matt’s strength and energies are most evident at 4 in the morning so we’re hoping he’ll handle our international support calls!

Matt officially joined us on February 17th and at 20 lbs and 27 inches he’s “growing” into his position just nicely.  You can contact Matty at matt@alumnichannel.com.

What to do with Alumni and Friend Web Sites you Don’t Control

Over the last number of years there have been a number of companies that use the Internet to create online communities of alumni. These companies typically provide a number of free services such as contacting and networking opportunities, the ability to post bios, resumes, photos and other information.

Alumni organizations should be aware of these sites and the levels of functionality and types of services they provide since they can often become direct competition for an institution’s official alumni and friends site.

via Alumni Web Sites You Don’t Control from SupportingAdvancement.com