In this episode of Alumless, Ryan Catherwood and Chris Marshall explore how alumni associations can generate new revenue streams while continuing to build strong engagement. With traditional revenue sources like affinity partnerships and membership dues fading, alumni professionals are being challenged to innovate and adapt in ways that align with their mission. Joining the conversation is Paul Clifford, CMAC’s newest Senior Consultant and former CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association. Paul shares his insights from decades of experience leading alumni engagement efforts at major institutions, reflecting on the balance between revenue generation and relationship-building. The discussion covers creative funding models, the shifting priorities of alumni leaders, and strategies for testing new ideas without compromising engagement goals. Tune in for an in-depth look at how institutions can navigate this new era of advancement, ensuring alumni engagement efforts remain impactful while also being financially sustainable. Subscribe to Alumless to catch the full conversation, including our exclusive podcast-only bonus segment with Paul. A special thanks to AlumniQ for supporting Alumless as our presenting sponsor. Check out the events and the technology everyone is talking about at alumniq.com.

Ryan's Friday Cheers - Alumni Sign Letter of Complaint After Vought Controversy (Wheaton College)

Subscribe to Alumless World on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In this episode of Alumless World, hosts Ryan Catherwood and Nicole Kempton explore the evolving landscape of alumni engagement and advancement with Mandy McFarland, Executive Officer at Educate Plus. Mandy shares how Educate Plus is expanding its membership across Australasia, providing vital resources for institutions looking to strengthen their advancement strategies. She also discusses the importance of advocacy, highlighting how the organization educates institutional leaders about the value of alumni relations, fundraising, and marketing teams.

Listeners will hear how international and boarding schools navigate the challenges of transient student populations, ensuring long-term alumni engagement and successful philanthropy programs. Mandy will reflect on her own journey in advancement, from her early career in South Africa to leadership roles in Australia, emphasizing the impact of professional networks and mentorship in the industry.

This episode offers a global perspective on alumni engagement, with actionable insights for advancement professionals worldwide. Alumless World airs every other Friday at 11:30 a.m. GMT, alternating weeks with Alumless. Subscribe to the podcast to hear the entire conversation, including an extended segment with Mandy.

Special thanks to AlumniQ for sponsoring this episode! Show notes & Friday Cheers The Generations Defined - McCrindle A June of Ordinary Murders by Conor Brady

On this episode of Alumless, Cindy Fredrick, Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement at the University of Virginia, joins us to discuss the crucial role that volunteers play in engagement and philanthropy. With over 5,000 volunteers involved in UVA Advancement’s efforts, Cindy brings her expertise in scaling volunteer programs, stewarding alumni, and maximizing their impact on the conversation.

We dive into how volunteerism in advancement has evolved over the years and discuss best practices for engaging and stewarding alumni, faculty, and parent-family volunteers. Cindy shares insights on innovative engagement strategies beyond event-based participation and explains how institutions can cultivate a volunteer pipeline that moves supporters from small commitments to high-impact leadership roles.

Thanks to Protopia for supporting Alumless. For more information about their AI-powered technology that’s helped schools like LSE and Northwestern win CASE awards in 2024, visit protopia.co/alumless.

In this first episode, we welcome Dr. Maria Gallo, Founder of KITE-Keep in Touch Education and Research Fellow at Trinity Business School. Maria shares insights from her research and experience in alumni relations as we discuss the concept of ‘alumni potential’ and how institutions foster lifelong connections with their graduates. We also dive into global trends, cultural differences in engagement, and key takeaways from her book The Alumni Way.

Tune in every other Friday at 11:30 a.m. GMT on LinkedIn and Youtube for more conversations with experts shaping the future of alumni engagement worldwide. We alternate weeks between Alumless and Alumless World.

Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Protopia, for supporting Alumless World. Don’t forget to subscribe and join us on this exciting new journey! Visit protopia.co/alumless.

Join us as we explore email as a critical metric for alumni engagement. Chris and Ryan welcome special guest Ashley Budd, Senior Director for Advancement Marketing at Cornell University and co-author of Mailed It!: A Guide to Crafting Emails that Build Relationships and Get Results. We discuss with Ashley why email remains essential and the metrics that truly matter, and also chat about the challenges advancement teams face in optimizing deliverability and consider email as a key aspect of the donor journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a top expert in advancement marketing. Thanks to AlumniQ for being a presenting sponsor of Alumless! Visit https://alumniq.com/ for more info on their events and everything else platform built exclusively for higher education.

We’re wrapping up the year on Alumless with a special holiday episode inspired by A Christmas Carol! This festive edition explores the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—alumni engagement style. Joining us are six special guests to help us reflect on our field, where we’ve come from, and where we’re headed in 2025 and beyond. On this episode, we’re reflecting on: 🔍 Lessons learned and opportunities missed in our field (Ghost of Christmas Past) 💡 Investments needed to thrive today (Ghost of Christmas Present) 🌟 Ensuring a bright, impactful future for alumni engagement (Ghost of Christmas Future) It’s the perfect way to close the year and set the tone for 2025. This special episode features some incredible guests: Matt Winston, Executive Director for Alumni Engagement at Binghamton University; Lyndsey Crum, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations at Wayne State University; Nicole Kempton, CMAC Vice President; Gina Yazzolino, Assistant Vice President for Constituent Engagement at the University of Portland, and Malayne Sharp, Director of Alumni Relations at Southeastern Louisiana University; and Matt James from the Marshall University Foundation. Also, we’ve got another HUGE announcement for CMAC and Alumless that you won’t want to miss. Thanks to Protopia and AlumniQ for supporting Alumless in 2025.

Hey, Alumless community! Join Chris and Ryan this week for our latest edition. We will explore how institutions can prioritize alumni engagement over the long term and what it takes to bring a campus together around the endeavor. Our special guest on this episode is Amy Layman, Associate Vice President for External Engagement at Franklin & Marshall College. On the show, Amy will share insights from a transformative three-year initiative to raise alumni involvement across campus.

Amy will also discuss the project's origins, milestones, lessons learned, faculty collaboration, and success metrics.

Thanks to our newest presenting partner, AlumniQ for supporting Alumless. Find out more about AlumniQ’s events plus everything else platform by visiting https://alumniq.com/

In this episode of Alumless, Chris and Ryan chat with Lauren Villanueva, Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Syracuse University, to explore the transformative work behind Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University. Lauren shares insights into the ambitious engagement goals set for the campaign and the strategies her team used to bring them to life. We also discuss her journey as a doctoral student studying engagement and how her research informs her approach to leading Syracuse’s recently merged Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving teams. We chat with Lauren about the challenges and opportunities of integrating alumni engagement with annual giving and how this unified model creates meaningful connections and inspires philanthropy. Thanks to Protopia for being our presenting sponsor. Protopia is all the buzz in the engagement space. Find out how their unique AI-powered technology helps schools scale volunteerism and make it easy for alumni to help.