(07-17-2014 10:38 AM)Kevin S Wrote:  

(07-17-2014 09:26 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(07-17-2014 09:19 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  You need inactive alums because they have $$$, students and recent grads dont

I realize this. But how often do inactive alums come back? Judging by the amount of alums in the area and looking at the stands during game day...i'd say very little.

My point is that (without being involved within the AD fundraising effort), it is far less efficient to let students graduate from NIU without that 'connection' THEN trying to reel them back in long after they have gone versus reeling them in as students and building a culture of 'loving your school' so that they much more easily donate back when called upon.

Very little here has appeared to change since i was a student. Hopefully it does though

I think that there are quite a bit more active alums than you think. I am still shocked that NIU raised 163 million in the True North Fundraising Campaign in that short amount of time. Every year the foundation raises more money than the year before. The key is to get alums interested and willing to donate to NIU Athletics. There should be an effort to reach out to all NIU donors. I think that NIU should adopt what Notre Dame does and award all university donors with athletic perks and points, not just HASF donors. NIU should also have an honorary alumni program that awards non alums who are friends of NIU. This makes them a part of the NIU family and more willing to donate to and support NIU.

the red black dinner draws 400 people and I think they are looking for a bigger venue

(07-17-2014 10:51 AM)GCD70 Wrote:  the red black dinner draws 400 people and I think they are looking for a bigger venue

What is this?

(07-17-2014 09:26 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(07-17-2014 09:19 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  You need inactive alums because they have $$$, students and recent grads dont

I realize this. But how often do inactive alums come back? Judging by the amount of alums in the area and looking at the stands during game day...i'd say very little.

My point is that (without being involved within the AD fundraising effort), it is far less efficient to let students graduate from NIU without that 'connection' THEN trying to reel them back in long after they have gone versus reeling them in as students and building a culture of 'loving your school' so that they much more easily donate back when called upon.

Very little here has appeared to change since i was a student. Hopefully it does though

Isn't that exactly what Frasier is trying to change? Athletics need to connect with current students and recent grads, but the "old" inactive alums is the demographic where the bulk of the potential fans exist. There is a lot to be gained if he can reach that untapped resource.