From Vision to Practice: What Alumni Relations Teams Can Do Today

Long-term visions matter—but alumni relations teams still have work to do today.

In a recent post, our founder shared a perspective on what alumni relations could look like by 2030: more connected, more personalized, and more impactful for both alumni and institutions. That vision raises an important question:

What can alumni relations teams do now to move in that direction?

Here are four practical shifts institutions can make today, regardless of size or budget, that lay the groundwork for the future of alumni engagement.

1. Treat Your Alumni Database as a Strategic Asset, Not a Filing Cabinet

Many institutions still manage alumni data as a static record of past students rather than a living foundation for engagement.

A modern alumni database should support:

• Ongoing data updates from alumni themselves
• Visibility into engagement across events, communications, and volunteering
• Segmentation based on interests, career stage, and involvement—not just graduation year

Institutions that invest early in alumni data hygiene and ownership are far better positioned to personalize outreach and scale engagement later.

(Related reading: Maintaining an Effective Alumni Database)

2. Design Engagement Paths That Don’t Start With Fundraising

Alumni engagement breaks down when the first, and sometimes only, touchpoint is a donation request.

Teams that see stronger participation typically:

• Offer career support, networking, and mentorship opportunities first
• Create low-barrier ways to stay involved (events, groups, introductions)
• Recognize engagement as valuable even when it doesn’t immediately generate revenue

Fundraising works best when it follows connection, not when it replaces it.

(Related reading: Measuring Alumni Engagement at Colleges and Universities)

3. Make Two-Way Engagement the Default

Broadcast communication is easy. Dialogue takes intention.

Simple changes can make alumni feel heard:

• Short surveys or polls tied to real decisions
• Opportunities for alumni to mentor, advise, or contribute expertise
• Clear feedback loops that show how alumni input is used

Two-way engagement builds trust and trust is the foundation of long-term participation.

4. Measure What Matters, Not Just What’s Easy

Open rates and attendance numbers only tell part of the story.

Institutions moving toward more mature alumni engagement models track:

• Frequency of alumni touchpoints across the year
• Depth of engagement (mentorship, volunteering, leadership)
• Retention of engaged alumni over time

Clear metrics help teams prioritize effort, justify investment, and communicate impact internally.

(Related reading: 2024 Alumni Engagement Review)

Connecting Today’s Actions to Tomorrow’s Vision

The future of alumni relations won’t arrive all at once. It will be built through small, intentional decisions made year after year—about data, communication, and what institutions choose to value.

If you’re interested in a longer-term perspective on where alumni engagement is headed, we share that vision here:

Alumni Relations in 2030: A Founder’s Vision

Progress starts with clarity. Strategy starts with action. The institutions that align the two will be the ones still hearing from their alumni years from now.

‍

If you liked this article, you may also like:

• Score Big with Alumni Engagement Strategies During Football Season
• Alumni Management Software Beats Social Media for Higher Ed Engagement
• Driving Alumni Engagement: The Role of Alumni Ambassadors

For more information on related topics, be sure to connect with us!