Share a finding from the Gallup 2021 project that you find impactful.
The Gallup study showed that affiliated alumni (50%+) reported a higher likelihood of finding a good job quickly after graduation than compared to non-affiliated alumni (36%). This is significant because it shows the fraternity/sorority experience is a true accelerator for professional success after graduation.
Why are the results of the Gallup 2021 project significant to you/your foundation?
It’s safe to say that many of our alumni “believe” the fraternal experience we offer today – including the one they enjoyed – plays an important role in the development of young men. This study gives us the credibility to validate these beliefs with our alumni, which sometimes includes overcoming fraternal relevance questions. We’ve only just begun to spread the word of the new research validating our fraternal experience, and the initial response from our alumni is one of confidence and excitement. I’m hopeful this research will only strengthen this excitement, while also helping us re-engage and win back alumni who may have questioned our relevance.
How have you/might you use the results of the Gallup 2021 project in your work as a fundraiser?
There are many direct connections to the results of this research and the outcomes our Foundation strives to achieve through the young men we invest in. However, research studies and results can often be overwhelming to digest. Our staff has tried to summarize the research results to a select few bullet points in our online, video and print materials. In the end, most alumni could get lost in the data, and it’s our job to extract the most compelling results that directly connect to the work of our Foundations today. Our goal is not to ensure all alumni can cite specific data points behind the research itself. Instead, our goal is to build overall confidence and credibility for the experience alumni enjoyed and the one the can help provide to the young men of the future.
Share a story of how you’ve used this data with a donor in a meeting, conversation, etc.
We recently trained a group of Campaign Cabinet members on our overall campaign case for support. Before diving in to the specifics of the campaign, we spent considerable time highlighting our organization’s progress over the last 15 years, along with sharing the recent research in order to build confidence in our overall industry. The discussion/questions that took place with these volunteers only strengthened their buy-in and commitment to the campaign case we shared.
