Many small-shop alumni directors with no-frills budgets have found volunteer alumni help worth the organizing efforts. Some creative ways that colleges and universities have found to inspire new interest among the uninvolved are described. (MLW)

The bottom line of a reunion is increased alumni support of all kinds--including monetary. Planning requires the combined efforts of both staff and alumni leaders. A training plan for alumni reunion leaders is described. (MLW)

Describes how MIT, Stanford, and Rensselaer are systematically mining the "knowledge capital" of their graduates to support more than just the efforts of the advancement division and traditional partners such as admissions and career services. They are developing comprehensive programs that help link alumni volunteers with every unit…

The Senior Alumni Program at the University of Western Ontario is a logical variation on alumni special-interest groups. Currently with 500 members and 400 on the waiting list, the only problem is limited staff and meeting space. The group provides the university with a talented, active volunteer force. (MLW)

Traditional recruitment techniques aren't attracting many minority students. Institutions trying to attract minorities are concentrating primarily on blacks. Recruitment strategies should vary according to minority group. (MLW)

A comprehensive study of Stanford University giving capacity of alumni and friends is described. The mission was to identify new donor prospects and to review perceptions of the people already identified. Some 1,200 new volunteers were involved. (MLW)

Alumni clubs and the alumni administrators on campus who help organize them have found that community work provides the added purpose that some groups have traditionally lacked. A community service goal can galvanize a diverse group, sustain loyalty, and extend the reach and reputation of even the most prominent institution. (MLW)

Before alumni can identify prospective students, the admissions and alumni offices have to forge a partnership, considering the other's goals and problems. A program for alumni/admissions volunteers has two purposes: to extend the reach of the admissions office and to give alumni a chance to serve. (MLW)

The same care must go into recruiting volunteers as paid personnel. Once the right volunteers have been recruited, there needs to be a systematic approach to retaining and rewarding them. A guide to obtaining, training, and maintaining, the best alumni volunteers is presented. (MLW)

Capital campaign strategies that helped rally support for seven community colleges are described. An attractive college profile, enthusiastic volunteers, effective training, community contacts, and high internal morale helped create good donor support. (MLW)

Alumni directors were asked how they share career network responsibilities with the career office. Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Career Connections, a program that draws on alumni to help students plan their careers, consists of workshops for alumni and students, brings alumni speakers, and a mentor program. (MLW)

Planned giving in a small college needs to be conducted differently than in a larger institution. Keys to success include commitment from trustees, realistic goals, appropriate program scope, adequate budget, well-conceived marketing strategy, effective volunteer involvement, and internal communication and understanding. (MLW)