Maximizing Graduation
Graduation is a time to celebrate the qualities of the school and the achievements of your students. It's also a great opportunity to remind donors why the school is such a great investment.
Hosting a Board Reunion Dinner is one way to leverage the graduation event to cultivate donor relationships. Past school board members often were consistent givers to the school but may have gotten burned out or disconnected. Create a setting that expresses your appreciation for current board members and reminds past board members why the school was such a priority during a prior phase of life. This is a connect event rather than a soliciation, but it should be followed by an invitation for past board members to take a fresh tour of the school to see all the progress that has been made.
Graduation is also the best time to educate this year's graduates about the importance of alumni giving. The strongest colleges and independent schools have an established alumni base that invests in the vision of the program. The further your graduates get from the school, the less likely they are to hear your message--so start now by inviting prior alumni to share about their commitment to the school and emphasizing the importance of such a long-term relationship.
