The top 5 considerations to ensure a seamless transition for your graduates to become young alumni

The spring is always a busy time for schools. College acceptance, graduation, staff hiring and transitions, alumni reunions, and more. As a development team it is important to consider the senior class transition to young alumni status. Without a transition plan, you may lose touch with a very important group of future donors, volunteers, and school advocates. Here are 5 quick tips for a seamless transition:

• Before your seniors leave your school, be sure to capture their personal contact information.

NOTE: Often, students will provide their college email address when you ask for additional contact information. While this is better than no address, that email will become obsolete post college graduation. Try to get personal emails!

• Introduce yourself and the concept of an alumni community. Seniors are going to be focused on graduation and their next exciting chapter after departing your school. By sharing what your role is and how you stay in touch with alumni, students will not be surprised when you get in touch in a future date.

HINT: Make the connection relevant to them, why would they want to stay in touch with you if they are in touch with their friends over social platforms and texting? Share events, resources, and more so they understand the value of this ongoing relationship.

• Be mindful of soliciting young alumni too early. Research shows that if you over solicit without building a relationship, schools saw 16% opt out rates compared to the 8% opt out when schools solicited fewer times and focused on strengthening their relationships before requesting donations.

CONSIDER THIS: If you lose the ability to reach out to alumni right after they graduate, you will not be able to reach out to them years down the line when they may be more willing to donate.

• Welcome your graduates via a communication out to your broader alumni community. Your alumni like to hear from you and a meaningful outreach can be celebrating a new class of alumni.

BONUS IDEA: You can request older alumni to provide well wishes to the seniors. You could also request they provide general life advise.

• Identify potential volunteers. Student deans, school counselors, and other teachers will know which students from the senior class may be great representatives for you to liaise with moving forward.

BONUS IDEA 2: Work with your college guidance team to help connect graduating seniors with alumni attending the same universities. Having upper classman as a contact could be a relief and resource to the incoming freshman.