In 2011, the Alumni/ae Council at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in Minnesota was nearly nonexistent. Other than holding monthly meetings and a lackluster fundraising phonathon, the council sponsored no programs or events; it did not follow its bylaws and had no reporting structure or processes for recruiting new members. Most of the 11 council members were suffering from volunteer fatigue, particularly the president. Few members attended meetings, which were unproductive. The council frequently discussed the need to recruit new members but never developed an action plan.

The Notre Dame University Alumni Association in Indiana, U.S., hosted its first Global Day of Service in 2023—drawing more than 3,500 volunteers for projects in 26 countries.

Research and News of Note; Inside CASE; CASE District News

It is still too early to say what will happen as the world confronts COVID-19, but advancement professionals in alumni relations and career services remain optimistic that students and alumni will be able to join the workforce. Campus career centers and alumni relations offices are teaming up to leverage alumni networks and provide work experience opportunities and informational sessions for students and young alumni. 

The CASE Library has created this collection to support advancement professionals who work with volunteers. It includes information on recruiting, hiring, managing, evaluating, and stewarding volunteers. It also offers resources on volunteers working in specific functions, such as admissions, alumni relations, fundraising, and government relations.

Women HBCU Presidents, Volunteer leadership structure, CASE Spotlight, U.S. Federal News

CQUni launched its 30 Minutes a Month program in 2018 and the goal is to get recent graduates to complete a small task—something that takes approximately 30 minutes—each month from March to November.

Succession planning is as prevalent in the corporate world as balance sheets and annual reports. Corporate boards want to keep business churning after the sudden departure of key executives, so identifying and grooming potential replacements is common practice. The concept hasn't taken off in advancement, but given the department's critical roles in building external relationships and generating resources, the topic is gaining traction.

Diverse, inclusive teams are more productive, more innovative, and more likely to retain and recruit talent. Advancement leaders who want to move the needle on inclusion at their organizations can turn to CASE’s Advancement Inclusion Index. The Index—a first-of-its-kind assessment tool—was just recognized with a Power of Associations Award from ASAE. Learn more.

CASE President and CEO Sue Cunningham sends a note of thanks to CASE's invaluable volunteers.