Cooper Alumni Program Thought Leadership

Effective leadership during alumni campaigns begins with understanding and tracking the full spectrum of alumni engagement, experiential, volunteer, and philanthropic. By monitoring these three categories, schools gain a clearer picture of how alumni connect with their alma mater and how to cultivate deeper, long-term involvement.

 

One of the most powerful tools for strengthening these connections is nostalgia. By thoughtfully incorporating archival photos, historic campus landmarks, yearbook excerpts, and milestone moments, such as championship wins on Pugh Field, fine arts performances in the Glenn Performing Arts Center, or beloved traditions like the Kinder/Senior Buddy Program, leaders evoke emotion, reinforce identity, and reignite alumni pride.

 

During the recent webinar, “Campaigns that Connect: Nostalgia Inspires Giving,” Kalli Lovejoy, Assistant Director, Major Gifts & Alumni Engagement, and Sara-Kate Johansen,  Alumni Engagement & Giving Officer, presented their strategic approach to using nostalgia throughout giving campaigns and communication efforts.

A core component of this work is the program’s collaboration with Vidigami, the platform that houses, organizes, and preserves archival photos, videos, and visual resources. Vidigami provides a centralized and searchable repository that allows staff to quickly access decades of content used in campaigns, the Cooper Alumni Series videos, IGNITE magazine, and other storytelling initiatives. Presenting alongside Vidigami underscored the essential role of organized visual history in a successful nostalgia-forward engagement strategy.

 

A key strategy highlighted in the webinar is audience segmentation, which ensures every alumnus receives communication and engagement opportunities that feel relevant and personal. The Cooper alumni team designs targeted programming for current seniors, college-aged alumni, and working professionals, recognizing that each group maintains different types of connections to the School.

 

The segmentation model also includes affinity-based alumni programs, which bring graduates together around shared identities, interests, or experiences. These affinity groups, whether tied to athletics, fine arts, academic pathways, or professional industries, provide natural communities through which alumni can participate in events, volunteer, or mentor current students. This approach expands pathways for involvement and helps alumni feel seen, included, and valued within a community that reflects their interests and backgrounds.

 

By integrating nostalgia, targeted storytelling, visual communication, and a robust segmentation strategy, including life-stage and affinity-based programs, the Cooper alumni programming has demonstrated that increasing overall engagement drives greater philanthropic participation. The program has seen a 40% increase in alumni engagement since prioritizing these methods.

 

This comprehensive, emotionally resonant approach strengthens affinity, deepens trust, and inspires alumni not only to re-engage but to invest in the School’s continued legacy.