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Christina Balotescu
June 6, 2025
Author’s note:
This piece was originally written in November 2020 and never formally published. Revisiting it now, what’s striking is not how much feels outdated, but how much still feels unresolved.
Over the past decade, alumni relations has gained better tools, more data, and higher expectations. And yet, many institutions continue to struggle with the same core challenge: how to build alumni relationships that are meaningful, sustained, and mutually valuable over time.
What follows is not a product announcement or a roadmap. It’s a point of view shaped by decades of building community software and working closely with alumni leaders. It reflects where I believe alumni relations is headed and what will be required to get there.
We’re publishing this now to contribute to a broader conversation about the future of alumni engagement, and to invite reflection on how institutions can move from transactional outreach to lasting community.
At 360Alumni, we see the potential for alumni networks where nearly all alumni are contactable, and the majority engage at least once a year—not because they are asked to, but because participation delivers real value.
By 2030, alumni re-engagement will be driven by coordinated, community-powered outreach supported by integrated data systems. Institutions will move beyond static contact lists toward thriving alumni communities that support connection, opportunity, and belonging.
We envision alumni programs that serve graduates at every stage of life. Career services will intelligently match alumni with relevant job opportunities and facilitate warm introductions to fellow alumni at those organizations. Enrollment teams will partner with engaged alumni to recruit students globally, leveraging authentic relationships rather than generic outreach. Faculty will remain connected as lifelong mentors, forming discipline-based communities and informal “fan clubs” that keep intellectual ties alive long after graduation.
Giving back will no longer be limited to writing checks. Alumni will contribute time, expertise, mentorship, and advocacy through flexible, well-supported opportunities. Fundraising will be integrated thoughtfully—targeted, respectful, and aligned with alumni interests and capacity. Volunteer engagement will extend far beyond events and boards, supported by a skills database owned by the institution rather than outsourced to external platforms.
Alumni relations will operate with the rigor of a business, guided by clear metrics and KPIs. Engagement platforms will track participation across multiple touchpoints and reward continued involvement. Alumni loyalty programs will borrow from the best of consumer models—offering personalization, recognition, and benefits reminiscent of Amazon Prime, Delta SkyMiles, or Marriott Bonvoy, but designed for community rather than consumption.
Recurring giving will feel more like membership than obligation, offering alumni early access to events, exclusive opportunities, and small but thoughtful moments of recognition. Strategic partners—employers, sponsors, and mission-aligned organizations—will participate through carefully curated, co-branded engagement that respects the integrity of the community.
Most importantly, alumni relations will be recognized as a driver of social mobility. Through mentorship, introductions, informal guidance, and private encouragement, alumni and institutional leaders alike will actively support career growth and professional outcomes. Success will be measured not just in dollars raised, but in opportunities created and lives advanced.
This vision is not hypothetical. Elements of it already exist today in early, imperfect forms across institutions willing to experiment and invest in long-term relationships.
At 360Alumni, this perspective shapes how we think about product, partnerships, and progress. Our next-generation platform, launching this spring, is designed to support this future incrementally, one milestone at a time.
We believe alumni engagement works best when it is intentional, measurable, and human. If this vision resonates with you, we invite you to share your own perspective—and explore how we might align in shaping the future of alumni relations together.
Originally written November 2020 for Gary Toyn’s blog.
Christina Balotescu is the Founder & CEO of 360Alumni. She created one of the first SaaS volunteer management solutions in 1999 and has spent her career building technology that connects people in communities. She continues to lead 360Alumni’s evolution toward becoming the world’s most effective alumni engagement platform.
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