Overall Review of Services

Overall Review of Services

Please refer to rest of this web site for more detailed information about our company and the methodology behind these strategies and services.

Alumni/Parent Program Audit

The first step with any group is to discover preliminary information needed to recommend a Feasibility Study, and to educate you and your board on the alumni cultivation and fund raising process. Key elements include:

Phone research with key alumni, school, and general fraternity representatives
A face-to-face meeting with your board and with chapter leaders

Following a visit with you and your board, a comprehensive report detailing our findings and recommendations, with a proposal for a Feasibility Study, will be delivered to you. This report will form the backbone of your planning. We complete this process for travel expenses only and in many cases we will have other reasons to be in your areas so there will be no costs.

You can start by filling out this Online Program Audit.

Feasibility Study

During the Study, using face-to-face meeting, phone interviews, and mail surveys, we:
Begin, or improve, all areas of your alumni/parent relations program
Create a project summary with all details regarding your project
Assess prospect capability, loyalty, cultivation level, and volunteer potential
Begin identifying, contacting, and recruiting major gift prospects
Begin recruiting volunteers

The Study centers on the `research’ and `romance’ of fund raising. The assessment is used to formulate a strategy for the Capital Campaign. A typical Study will take 12 months, though we have completed smaller studies in 3 moths.

The Study provides the groundwork for a Capital Campaign. It must include an alumni programming running concurrently. Prices range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on services provided.

Here’s what is included in the Study:

Database Software and Records Integration
Project Summary
Alumni Survey via email/mail
Parent Survey via email-mail
Undergraduate Survey via email/mail
Telephone or in-person research/cultivation interviews with up to 20% of your alumni database
Early recruitment and solicitation of major gifts and volunteers
A comprehensive report detailing the results of the surveys, telephone calls, and in-person interviews
Recommendations and a proposal for the next step, including strategy and schedule for the Capital Campaign

A complete alumni/parent programming service will be in place during the entire term of the Feasibility Study. Included are the following:

Monthly Records Maintenance
2-3 Newsletters via email/web and/or mail
Website Creation and Maintenance for Alumni, Parents and Undergraduates
Directory Survey with Directories Available By Website or Print Version
Event Program Management
Annual Fund and Planned Giving Management
Recognition Program Management
Unlimited Alumni and Chapter Program Advice

Feasibility Study: 6-9 months or 12 months?

The 12-month option is recommended for all chapters. It provides ample time to establish the alumni/parent relations program, to research and develop a detailed project summary, to solidify house corporation leadership, and to maximize time spent cultivating and recruiting volunteers and major donors.

The 6-9 month option is designed for those clients who already have a well cultivated alumni/parent base. If you have an established program that only needs a little "tweaking" and you are in a hurry to determine what level of support is already there, then an extensive study can be done in 6-9 months. (A limited study can be done over 3 months).

Capital Campaign

During a Campaign, we:

Continue with your alumni/parent relations program, with increased attention to more events
Finalize the campaign brochure and create other Campaign documents (gift forms, etc.)
Finish recruiting volunteers and solidify the leadership team
Solicit major gifts
Solicit remaining chapter alumni, parents, undergraduates, and non-chapter alumni

The Campaign centers on the "romance," "recruit," and "request" of fund raising. A typical Campaign will last 12 to 18 (we do have an 18-month joint feasibility study/campaign contract that sometimes is appropriate) months and may be started immediately following a Feasibility Study. If there are issues that need to be addressed such as the undergraduate chapter, board leadership, and/or alumni/parent cultivation, the Campaign may start much later.

We are primarily consultants and managers; it is our job to ensure that the campaign is completed successfully. Our goal is for every prospect to be solicited by the person who is able to get the best result. For most major gift prospects, an FMG partner will be part of the team. For the majority of prospects, however, one or more chapter alumni from the same era will solicit the gift.

A complete alumni/parent programming service will be in place during the entire term of the Feasibility Study. We cannot help you raise funds if you are not actively working to raise friends. Prices depend on services provided (budget approximately 10% of the campaign goal)

Alumni/Parent Program Management

Prior to, as a part of, and after a Capital Campaign, or even if you have no plans to ever raise money from your alumni, the most important decision you can make as stewards of your chapter is to consistently maintain a solid alumni/parent program.

Services and Descriptions

Database Software and Records Integration

The first thing we do for any client, this involves getting any alumni/parent/undergraduate records, from all sources possible, and putting them into a custom IBM-compatible database program with extensive information tracking and reporting capabilities. Very soon we will be able to offer this in a web version.

Records Maintenance and Alumni/Parent and Chapter Program Advice

This entails management of your database, updates from any source, and reports on schedule or demand, and unlimited advice. We have an 800 number, fax number, and e-mail address available to your board, your chapter, and your alumni.

Campaign Billing and Acknowledgment

We send quarterly reminders to brothers with payments due on a pledge, as well as process the reports of payments made. We also acknowledge all pledges and payments, and can provide reports to you or your board on schedule and on demand.

Newsletter

Our most powerful publication, a 4-8-page newsletter that focuses on your alumni. Production includes research, interviews, writing of the articles, acquisition of pictures, layout, and handling of the entire printing and mailing process. We can do this newsletter in print or web versions.

Website Creation & Maintenance

A website created to foster communication amongst alumni and parents as well as provide information relating to the chapter. This site will contain an alumni/parent/undergraduate directory, event calendar, online giving, weekly news, undergraduate resources, and special links. For those in Feasibility Studies and Capital Campaigns, the sites will be tailored respectively.

Alumni/Parent/Undergraduate Directory

An Alumni Directory lists all alumni and undergraduates and provides their home and business information. Production includes research and handling of the entire printing and mailing process for those who want a print version. Most clients choose the web version.

Event Program Management

This includes production of all flyers, invitations, and programs.

Annual Fund Planned Giving Management

This includes production of all solicitations, follow-ups, and acknowledgments.

Recognition Program Management

This includes suggestions of nominees, publication of applications, suggestions for inductees, and writing biographies.

Alumni Research/Cultivation/Solicitation Calls

Usually packaged with a Study or Campaign, a client not involved in either may have a need for some calls.

Travel

A representative will meet with your board, chapter, or alumni for education, cultivation, or solicitation. Our goal is to see that you have a quality undergraduate chapter, effective alumni/parent relations program, and a living-learning environment that is the talk of your campus.

Prices for the alumni/parent programming services range from $300 to $800 per month plus print and mailing costs.