Guide to Outreach
We’ve adopted a peer-to-peer, portfolio-based approach to outreach, which aims to create a continuing conversation between volunteers and classmates all year long (and then carry over to next year)! For current volunteers, this might mean you’ll be asked to select more classmates than in previous years, but we find that this approach reduces some of the ‘cold-calling’ anxiety toward outreach and it ultimately proves more successful. To that end, we’ve created a proposed cadence to get you started.
Tip: Be yourself! You can use our proposed cadence linked above for ideas, but it will always sound better coming from you! So please customize or start from scratch to make it your own.
Step 1: Check In/Introductions
Even if you already know the classmate you’re reaching out to, it’s a good idea to start with a check-in. If you aren’t familiar with this classmate, a tried-and-true approach is to send an email ahead of a call. Many people don’t answer calls or texts from numbers they don’t know.
See what they’ve been up to since graduation or last Reunion. Share an update of your own! Let them know that you’re volunteering on behalf of Vassar and that you’ll be reaching out at various times.
Note that you can directly click on an email address in a classmate’s record to pull up your email client and start chatting.
Step 2: Building Rapport
You might want to share old photos/memories from your shared time at Vassar. Now’s also a nice time to bring some current campus news to your classmate or to share updates on Vassar in the world.
We’ll also be nudging you with timely events and initiatives (e.g. Generation Vassar, Reunion, Calendar Year End, etc).
Step 3: Making the Case
Thank them for their previous support of the College and/or their prior Reunion attendance (if applicable). Explain that we need them again this year (and every year). The ‘why’ should be personal, but giving to Vassar always supports a student’s access to a world-class education. Some people give out of nostalgia. Others give out of gratitude. So each volunteer’s approach may be different!
Remember that you can designate your gift. Are you passionate about sustainability? Was the library your favorite place on campus? These are causes you can support through your gift to Vassar.
When reaching out, be sure to include the link to give.vassar.edu, where your classmates can make a one-time or recurring monthly gift online. That page also includes a link to “Ways To Give” where they will see other options, such as sending a check or giving through an IRA.
Tip: It’s always easiest (and most effective) to ask someone to join you in a cause! The first step in asking someone to make a gift to Vassar is to make one yourself.
Step 4: Saying Thanks
Saying ‘thank you’ is just as important as making the ask. We’ve created some digital thank you cards for you to use, but feel free to get creative! GiveCampus will notify you within the platform and via email when one of your assignments makes a gift. This is a great time to say thank you and to log the thank you in GiveCampus.
Even if a classmate can’t give, don’t get discouraged. It’s important to stay connected and your messages can help change their mind.
Step 5: Stay in Touch!
Now that you’ve made this connection, stay in touch. Please continue to share fun links and memories, invitations to local events, etc. We hope that this outreach will be easy and fun. Plus, it makes it easier to reach out again next year.