This article presents an analysis of active crowdfunding campaigns posted on ten crowdfunding platforms in May 2013 to provide a glimpse of the recent trends in the crowdfunding of educational technology startups. We describe the characteristics of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns in educational technology and identify the most popular…

Shrinking financial support from governments and forecast declines in the college-going population have combined to exert tremendous pressure on institutions of higher learning. Branding as a strategy has become more popular as a way of differentiating an institution from its competition, but the complexity of higher education makes branding an…

Suggestions for producing low-cost promotional materials to attract alumni to alumni programs are provided. Running advertisements in an alumni periodical or promoting all events in one brochure are suggested. Production, paper and printing, and illustrations and photos are discussed. (MLW)

This guide suggests that public awareness campaigns can be an important part of a community's strategy to fight substance abuse. They can call attention to problems, and they can be a mobilizing force to unite different groups. The numerous public awareness campaigns that other communities use can be models for local efforts. This Action Kit lists…

Ways to create and implement a master marketing plan for college campuses are described. The best marketing plans describe both objectives and methods for all appropriate areas within the institution. (MLW)

Publications administrators can freshen stale publications by updating vision, methods, and attitude. Ways to avoid the staleness trap include: critique work systematically, pick the right boss, look at the best work around the country, staff with young people, etc. (MLW)

Coherent communications enhance both outsiders' perceptions of institutions and the quality of the college experience for students. A communications master plan--a compelling total vision of how communications should be structured--should be developed by the public relations office after taking inventory of all communications produced on campus.…

A survey of the best in event ideas, settings, and themes for alumni programs is discussed. Traveling reunions at Greenhill School, a private screening of "Ghostbusters II," morning breakfasts of alumni at Purdue University, are among those described. Capturing the attention of graduating seniors before they leave campus is advocated. (MLW)

Lafayette College used the Nexis database to find out if their peer institutions were receiving more and "better" national press exposure. Four categories of exposure were identified: coincidental mentions, sports stories, stories placed by an institution's own public relations efforts, and stories based on general prestige and perceived…

The San Rafael City Schools' exhibit which was displayed at the 1983 Marin County Fair (California) is described. The exhibit, entitled "Education - A Real Winner," consisted of 12 display panels illustrating the following aspects of the school system: (1) early history from 1861; (2) present board and administration; (3) present schools…

A six-month French language promotion program in West Berlin revolving around French song and including interclass competitions, a teaching seminar, recitals, conferences, film showings, and an exposition is described, and participant and observer reactions are presented. (MSE)

A program is described in which student work and achievement were displayed during Public Schools Week in a Solano County (California) shopping mall. The purpose of the program is to provide publicity for schools and to reach the 75% of the adult population who have no personal contact with schools. The program description includes: types of…

Washington College, a small liberal arts college on Maryland's Eastern Shore, revitalized its fund-raising program, adding an aggressive marketing strategy and a new emphasis on major gifts. They used a three-step process: assessed their situation, solidified their development program, and used that to support a big-gift campaign. (MLW)

The California Art Education Association has developed a statewide advocacy effort to counteract declines in art education brought about by financial pressures and the basic skills movement. This article describes the advocacy program's publicity efforts and commitments to work with the entire arts community in a "comprehensive arts"…

As the shrinking pool of applicants forces colleges to adapt new approaches to recruiting, media campaigns are emerging as an effective way to send key messages to target audiences. Media relations can lend credibility (news coverage is considered more credible than advertising); save money; reach targeted areas; and communicate key themes. (MLW)