Comments on: Alumni E-Networks: Using Technology to Engage Alumni and Constituents http://www.higheredblogcon.com/index.php/alumni-e-networks-using-technology-to-engage-alumni-and-constituents/ transforming academic communities with new tools of the social web Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:34:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Todd Stacy http://www.higheredblogcon.com/index.php/alumni-e-networks-using-technology-to-engage-alumni-and-constituents/#comment-224 Todd Stacy Tue, 18 Apr 2006 05:44:08 +0000 http://www.higheredblogcon.com/index.php/alumni-e-networks-using-technology-to-engage-alumni-and-constituents/#comment-224 I'm a senior PR major at Auburn University currently completing an internship with the University's Office of Development (a fancy name for fundraising for anyone not familiar). Facebook came to Auburn in 2004 and last I heard there are 22,000 users from our .edu domain. It has crept its way into the Major Gifts office where I work because of young people like me logging on in our spare time. What no one here has realized before and part of what I've preached to our development officers is that the Facebook is a treasure trove of information about future donor prospects. Sure, recent alumni and soon-to-be graduates like me may not have the money to give now. But, as your screen/pod/skypecast pointed out, the majority of users will keep their profiles long after they are students. That means all their clubs, interests and social networks are at our disposal to aide in identifying and cultivating future donors. Besides the information resources, Facebook is an opportunity to establish a giving atmoshpere among young alumni. Imagine a Facebook group exclusively for donors that recognizes them for certain levels of gifts, no matter how small. Suddenly, giving becomes popular and a whole new generation of donors has been established. Those are my thoughts, anyway. Thanks for talking about this subject. I’m a senior PR major at Auburn University currently completing an internship with the University’s Office of Development (a fancy name for fundraising for anyone not familiar).

Facebook came to Auburn in 2004 and last I heard there are 22,000 users from our .edu domain. It has crept its way into the Major Gifts office where I work because of young people like me logging on in our spare time.

What no one here has realized before and part of what I’ve preached to our development officers is that the Facebook is a treasure trove of information about future donor prospects.

Sure, recent alumni and soon-to-be graduates like me may not have the money to give now. But, as your screen/pod/skypecast pointed out, the majority of users will keep their profiles long after they are students. That means all their clubs, interests and social networks are at our disposal to aide in identifying and cultivating future donors.

Besides the information resources, Facebook is an opportunity to establish a giving atmoshpere among young alumni. Imagine a Facebook group exclusively for donors that recognizes them for certain levels of gifts, no matter how small. Suddenly, giving becomes popular and a whole new generation of donors has been established.

Those are my thoughts, anyway. Thanks for talking about this subject.

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