Whether facing budget and staff cuts or event logistics, alumni associations can make good use of volunteers. Three important rules for volunteer program management include maintaining good volunteer relationships, knowing when to ask for help, and recruiting good veteran, novice, and even nonalumni volunteers. (MSE)

Alumni with drive and influence can help a college alumni organization meet its long-term goals. Prospective donors may be willing volunteers, and regular review of the alumni notes may suggest volunteers. A diverse volunteer group can best represent diverse alumni populations. Challenging, meaningful assignments that tap expertise are the most…

Guidelines offered for working with college alumni volunteers in student recruitment efforts include enlisting local alumni leaders' help; communicating expectations and procedures; requiring up-to-date records on local schools; prompt response to volunteer communications; and recognizing volunteer contributions. (MSE)

As the demand for qualified college fund raisers intensifies, institutions are turning to executive search firms. Professional recruiters increase access to candidates, can be persuasive, act as a buffer in salary negotiations, and free senior administrators from time-consuming personnel work. However, some firms show less responsibility than…

Although volunteers serve many useful functions in fund raising, soliciting gifts should be left to staff. Volunteers are hard to recruit, keep, motivate, are unreliable, lacking in expertise, and they can balk at the realities of development tasks. Development offices should carefully think through the appropriate roles for these individuals.…

Ingredients for a successful alumni association membership campaign are outlined, including clear objectives for the campaign; support of staff, board, and administration; careful timing; focus on college events; strategically targeted mailing audience; appropriate type of mailing; unique message; attention-getting format; follow-up; and use of…

The strategies used by a variety of colleges to involve alumni in student recruitment efforts are described. These include awards programs, scholarships, talent scouting, college nights, interviewing, special events, and communication with prospective or incoming students. The importance of training and communication in the alumni-recruitment…

Four experienced college alumni volunteers offer information and opinions on how and why they became volunteers, how they serve, amount of time spent volunteering, what the alumni office does that is most helpful, how to keep volunteers from feeling overburdened, how to reward volunteers, and working with a spouse. (MSE)

College alumni associations are using a variety of approaches to improve alumni participation. Surveying alumni for needs and preferences can be fruitful. Program ideas include career planning, parent programs, community service, student relations activities, and high school recruitment. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation is crucial to…

Volunteer fund raisers for colleges bring enthusiasm, perspective, motivation, and influence to the task of soliciting gifts. They stretch staff time, fill out the fund-raising team, and cost little. Careful definition of responsibilities, recruitment, training, and monitoring and rewards for good work are essential to getting the best results.…

Reasons and techniques for encouraging planned giving among baby-boomers are outlined, and one approach is detailed. This involves recruiting a volunteer financial services team of alumni to host financial presentations for fellow alumni in their local areas, and developing a newsletter for the target alumni population. The fund-raising program at…

For colleges and universities to recruit transfers from community colleges, they must make the academic transition smooth and easy, by identifying student needs and offering services tailored to meet them. Such services may include special orientations, career planning services, student personnel services, clear credit transfer policies, and…