Best practices in advancement tech

Advancement teams are the backbone of financial stability and growth for educational institutions, but they face significant challenges both internally and externally. Engaging donors across an increasing number of channels in a complex fundraising landscape is no small feat.

Many institutions struggle with outdated and fragmented technology systems that hinder operational efficiency and personalized appeals. By modernizing these systems and integrating sophisticated analytics and AI applications, advancement leaders can significantly improve donor data management and overall fundraising effectiveness.

New challenges for the advancement sector

Advancement leaders will face several significant challenges in the coming years, both within and outside their organizations.

Interdepartmental collaboration remains a huge challenge, particularly in large universities where marketing and fundraising teams sometimes compete for budget. This results in inefficiency, inconsistency, lost opportunities, and poor constituent experiences. Recent federal funding cuts and declining alumni numbers due to the recession-caused Enrollment Cliff have increased pressure on institutions to fill financial gaps through fundraising.

Fundraisers must manage engagement across a spiraling number of communication channels, including email, social media, and direct mail. Scaling these efforts with limited resources is essential for maintaining strong donor relationships. A broad survey by Salesforce last year found that a lack of digital engagement training was holding nonprofits back from making the most of their digital tools and strategies. Many institutions struggle with outdated and fragmented technology systems that hinder operational efficiency. Modernizing these systems and ensuring they are user-friendly can significantly improve the management of donor data and overall fundraising effectiveness.

Priorities for leaders

Leading orgs must focus on efficiency and people to drive success. Creating a shared vision for transforming student learning through effective use of technology, involving all stakeholders, and aligning this vision with established frameworks or standards is crucial. Developing a comprehensive plan for building and sustaining technology infrastructure, evaluating digital learning resources, and providing professional learning and coaching ensures informed decisions and effective use of resources.

Change management is a concrete management methodology that helps build buy-in among people impacted by change, provides necessary information, supports them through the transition, and reinforces required behaviors for success. The ADKAR model is a popular framework to guide people through transitions, and one that we recommend.

Steps to advancement success

1. Integrate your school’s advancement office: An integrated advancement team can significantly enhance the success of an institution by improving coordination, aligning workloads, and achieving greater outcomes across teams like marketing, fundraising, and IT.
2. Unify donor engagement: Designing a unified donor journey is crucial, especially in large universities where different departments and colleges have their own systems. Aligning donor engagement with specific giving opportunities maximizes impact and builds donor trust and loyalty.
3. Streamline and bolster your stack: Technology and advancement leaders should take a broad view of their ecosystem and determine what can stay, what can go, and what can be enhanced. Developing a Technology Roadmap that identifies the technologies beyond your CRM that bring efficiencies, optimize your return on investment, support your current needs, and have the capacity to grow with you is essential.

Preparing for the future of advancement

The coming decade’s most successful organizations will be led by forward-thinking advancement teams that are making decisions today about what their constituents will need in the future. Leaders from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education indicate that technology and data integration will be the key themes of coming years. Many predict that development in AI will allow advancement teams to increase reporting, storytelling, and drive more meaningful engagement.

To face an uncertain future, advancement leaders must prioritize fostering interdepartmental collaboration and breaking down silos within their organizations, aligning goals and creating a unified approach to donor engagement. Investing in modern, integrated technology systems that support personalized appeals and sophisticated analytics will be crucial.

These systems can help manage the increasing complexity of fundraising efforts and ensure that institutions can effectively engage with donors across multiple channels.

Your partner for advancement success

Heller Consulting specializes in empowering education organizations to shape the future by providing effective technology solutions that raise funds, enhance student engagement, strengthen alumni relations, and streamline operations. We understand the unique challenges faced by education advancement teams and offer tailored strategies that align with institutional goals.

Our expert consultants, many with experience in higher education advancement teams, take the time to understand the specific priorities and challenges of your institution. By leveraging data-driven insights and streamlined processes, Heller Consulting supports efforts to build lasting relationships with major donors, alumni, and corporate partners, ensuring the institution’s long-term success.

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