Welcome to the first Educate Plus NZ Chapter e-news of 2020! We trust that you have all hit the ground running and are well-immersed in the excitement of the year ahead. An extra special welcome to our new members! We look forward to connecting with and getting to know you.
As advancement professionals we know our communities well, and you have no doubt been involved in start of the year special events. You may also be assisting with communications and responsiveness relating to a crisis situation. Many of our institutions and organisations are impacted by the developing international situation surrounding the coronavirus. Don’t forget that other Educate Plus members may have faced similar challenges before you and would be happy to share their knowledge if you reach out. We have our LinkedIn page, NZ Chapter Closed Facebook Group and of course the website to assist in making contact with other members.
Educate Plus represents a network of members renown for sharing ideas and experiences, now is a great time to think about professional development and make sure this is included in your diaries. Time to make sure your own development is scheduled in alongside those important events!
This year, we are pleased to deliver you a broad range of professional development and networking opportunities to help you in your work and aid you in your professional knowledge and experience. The NZ Executive Committee is here to serve you.
We look forward to meeting you during the course of the year.
Naomi Wilde,
NZ Chapter President
Fundraising campaign raises most ever in New Zealand
A fundraising campaign publicly launched by the University of Auckland in 2016 has raised the largest ever amount in New Zealand’s philanthropic history.
The Campaign For All Our Futures, designed to fund research, innovation, and initiatives to support students, had a goal of raising $300 million. At a gala dinner in Auckland on Thursday, 21 November 2019, the University announced that when the campaign closed on 31 October 2019, it had raised $380,271,165.
The total amount comprised 23,592 separate donations, gifted by more than 7,000 donors; almost all were for a specific, nominated purpose. Many of the major gifts were for medical research while other contributions supported donor-funded student scholarships. The very last gift on the evening of 31 October was an online donation of $220 towards the Student Emergency and Wellbeing Fund, from an Australia-based alumnus.
University of Auckland Chancellor Scott St John said the money raised was a crucial part of the University being able to continue to contribute locally and internationally.
“More than any other time, the world faces immense challenges. We are in the middle of a technological revolution, climate change, and an expanding and ageing population. Health and wellness issues are affecting the way and the length of time we live, while the needs of people must be balanced with the impact on the environment and the planet.
“By generating new knowledge and providing the highest levels of formal education, research-led universities have a unique role to play in helping meet these challenges and creating a positive future both in New Zealand and internationally.” Read more here…
Admin 101: What to Know About Alumni Relations
By David D. Perlmutter
Alumni relations is the misunderstood sibling of fund raising. The two have much in common — interacting with people who are no longer studying and working at your campus — and one can lead to the other. But they are different. Good alumni relations has many nonfinancial benefits, and if it becomes “all about the money,” you risk alienating both regular alumni and major donors.
Administrative work can be partitioned in many ways — one of which is to distinguish between internal versus external tasks. If, for example, you chair a chemistry department, you may spend most of your time on internal functions, reacting to the needs of chemistry majors, professors, and staff members. Externally, you may talk with alumni at commencement or when they come back to guest lecture in a class. Occasionally you will meet with a graduate to “seal the deal” on a potential donation.
If you’re a dean, on the other hand, you very likely have significant and constant outside concerns — fund raising, alumni relations, industry engagement. The balance can depend on the campus and the situation. In my previous position, when I became director of a school within an arts-and-sciences college, only about 20 percent of my job was externally directed. Now, as a dean, the external work can take up to 40 percent of my time.
This month, the Admin 101 series on higher-education leadership turns to alumni relations, including how it differs from development. (I tackled the latter in a previous series of columns, “Don’t Fear Fund Raising.“) Good alumni relations will not only benefit your department, school, college, or university, but also make you a better leader. Read more here…
NZ Chapter Educate Plus Facebook Group
We’d love you to join and be part of our Facebook group, our own personal engagement hub! This group is for NZ Chapter members to provide support for each other, to share knowledge and ask questions. Keep up to date with the latest news from Educate Plus NZ and speak directly to your peers. This is a closed group for exchange of ideas/advocacy/information in relation to the Advancement sector in NZ education – both schools and tertiary. Please click below and you will be authorised to join. Then invite all your NZ Chapter members who are Facebook Friends to join too.
SAVE THE DATE – more details and links to register to follow.
Wednesday 11 March 2020 l PD CASE Presentation l Waikato
Wednesday 15 April 2020 l Potentiality Database Workshop TBC l Auckland
The two key Professional Development events on offer to all members in the year include a national road show (Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch) in the week of 8th June featuring Australasian advancement experts Dr Alan Watkinson and Ann Badger who will co-present a workshop focussing on Best Practice for Small Office operations and Successful Bequest Programmes.
Welcome new members!
A very warm welcome to our new members! We look forward to meeting with you at one of our 2020 SIG’s, PD or networking sessions. Please feel free to jump onto our website forum to ask a question, seek advice or listen to other hot topics. We also invite you to join our NZ Private FB Group which has up to date discussions with Educate Plus members.
Mel
Rissman
Development Coordinator
St Andrew’s College, Christchurch NZ
Dave
Marsh
Consultant
AskRIGHT
Judy
Watt
Supporter Experience Manager
St Cuthbert’s College
Jemma
Taylor
Senior Communications Manager
St Cuthbert’s College
Camila
Reyes
Alumni & Events Coordinator
St Andrew’s College, Christchurch NZ
Stu
Munro
Head of Marketing and Communications
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Mari
Booysen
Senior Development Manager
Massey University Foundation
Peter
Halligan
Trust Manager
Massey University Foundation
Claire
Cacho
Annual Giving & Communications Manager
Massey University Foundation
Kelly
Worth
Admissions Manager
St Peter’s, Cambridge
Fiona
McQuade
Development Manager
Craighead Diocesan School
The Traditional Admission Funnel is Broken
This article is reproduced with kind permission from Brendan Schneider. Educate Plus are currently working with Brendan with the view of bring him to Australia to conduct a series of Master Classes.
In my opinion, the traditional admission funnel is broken. I believe this for two reasons:
1. The Rise in Ghost Inquiries
Ghost inquiries are those inquiries where the first point of contact with the prospective family is when they submit their application. The implications of ghost inquiries are huge.
Sure it was great that you received the application but what about all those families that researched your school and decided not to apply. The family has made a decision about your school without you having a voice in the conversation. I often wonder how many families have considered Sewickley Academy but never completed an inquiry form.
Let that sink in for a moment.
The implications are huge.
The traditional funnel model where a family would express interest in your school by calling the admission office with the purpose of receiving your admission packet are over. When the family made their inquiry, they were, in essence, giving you permission to market to them about your school. Those days are over!
The new model, as suggested by the ghost inquiry, is that families are doing their research about your school using Google, review sites like Great Schools, viewing your school’s social media channels, and talking to families and friends about their individual opinions.
When a family completes an inquiry form now, they have already made their decision that they are interested in your school.
Are you thinking about your marketing and admission processes in this new light?
2. The Funnel Signifies an End to the Process
I often walk around the office and say that it’s easier to re-enrol a student than it is to enrol a student. Where is re-enrolment represented in the traditional admission funnel?
It’s not!
Another reason that I think the traditional admission funnel is dead is that the point of the funnel signifies an end – that once a student is enrolled their journey is complete. I think that their journey is only beginning with your school.
There has been a change in this line of thinking in recent years as evidenced in the advancement model at schools as well as admission directors assuming the title of Director of Enrolment. Schools have increasingly spent more time strategically thinking about retention and my school even has a committee where we discuss retention beginning in the early winter of the school year.
What replaces the funnel?
This is a great question and one that I’ve been struggling with for some time. While I’m honestly not sure what form the new funnel should take I have recently settled on The Enrolment Rings.
Here is the general concept – a student moves from one ring to the next based on their level of attraction or commitment to the school. The goal of the school is to move a child into the ring in the middle which signifies an Evangelist for the school.
Here are the Rings:
Ring 1: Awareness (of your school)
Ring 2: Interest (in your school)
Ring 3: Application (to your school)
Ring 4: Enrolment
Ring 5: Re-enrolment
Ring 6: Alumni
Ring 7: Evangelist
The Enrolment Rings help to address the two weaknesses above of the traditional admission funnel: 1. A school cannot simply focus upon Ring 2: Interest (or Inquiry) anymore, they must also focus on raising awareness of your school for mission appropriate families, 2. The Enrolment Rings have no end, as the funnel does, once a family reaches Ring 7: Evangelist a school will have to work hard in order to keep the family in Ring 7. There is never an end, or finish line – schools, must continue to cultivate individual families to keep them in the Evangelist ring.
International Conference Adelaide 2020
This is the premier event for advancement professionals across Australasia. It will provide you with significant opportunities to learn about leading practices, with over 80 leading practitioners from Australasia, USA and UK presenting. There will be plenty of opportunities to network with your peers and gain industry knowledge through discussion and building connections. You will gain insights from project leaders and industry influencers over the 3 days of workshops in 7 streams.
The Educate Plus 2020 International Conference provides an invaluable opportunity to:
Learn and up-skill by attending a variety of conference sessions, including keynote presentations, concurrent sessions and workshops.
Over 98% of delegates achieved their outcomes in attending the last Educate Plus International Conference.
Hear from local and international thought-leaders on emerging topics and trends.
Network with 700+ advancement practitioners and like-minded peers.
Discover the latest innovations, products and services on show at the exhibition.
The conference has seven concurrent streams which will cover:
Admissions
School Fundraising
Advanced and Tertiary Fundraising
School Alumni and Community engagement
Advanced and Tertiary Alumni and Community Engagement
Marketing and Communications
Leadership and General Advancement
In addition to the pre-conference masterclasses and workshops on 8 September, the following 3 conference days (9-11 September) will include round-table opportunities to discuss key challenges, as well as practical sessions with the aim of providing attendees with a range of strategies to implement in their roles. There is a full social program to encourage and provide time to network.
Don’t miss out, early bird tickets are on sale now!
Pre-Conference Workshops and Masterclasses
Our pre-conference workshops and masterclass offerings for the 2020 International Conference surpass previous years. You are welcome to register for any class/workshop you wish, there are full or half-day options.
Led by a hand-picked group of the world’s most innovative educators, combining focused, relevant information and tips, that are guaranteed to keep you engaged, delegates can immerse themselves in the day to learn the tricks of the trade.
Our Capital Campaigns Masterclasswill include focused talks, interactive discussions and current trends from world experts. This workshop will be relevant to the Alumni and Fundraising staff, and will make you think, review and implement best practice.
Our iPhone & Cinematography workshop is guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing. Creative communication forms the beating heart of marketing communications/ social media/ telling your story, but not all of us feel comfortable delving into our creative brain in order to produce new and inspiring material. Our workshop will explore elements of videography, empowering you to communicate with elegance and eloquence.
This expert is an experienced presenter, writer and content developer and at #epadelaide2020, he will share the secrets to Delivering an amazing Presentation. Delegates will learn the core components of every great talk:
The story – making sure the message has a coherent structure
The media – enhancing the story not distracting from it
Presentation – making sure the message is delivered with presence
This incredible handpicked lineup of experts will take you through Discovering Advancement. There will be a lot of shared knowledge from people at different stages in the Industry from those newly joined, fresh faced members to those experts who have lots of insights to help you on your journey. This unique workshop will be an unforgettable opportunity to update your Advancement knowledge, and is relevant to everyone in the Educational Advancement sector. Do not miss out.
You can get totally overwhelmed when it comes to social media, the new platform developments, algorithms, how do you keep up? In our Social Media Advertising workshop, you will come away from this session and you will be so incredibly excited and pumped that you will just want to do everything now!! DO NOT MISS THIS SESSION! You will learn from someone who has worked in the industry (MySpace, Bebo, Facebook). Want some insider tips? Register for this session.
Take advantage of our free Sponsor workshops, where you will be provided with information and training on their services and products, with Q & A session to follow.
Synergetic: Empower Education through world-class Management Solutions.
Charidy: Leading Nonprofits use Charidy to accelerate their growth and strengthen their communities, fundraising solutions.
Digistorm: Apps, websites, enrolment automation and much more.
Potentiality TBC : Provide an all-in-one solution that encompasses a powerful Fundraising Database, a social network integrated Online Community, a Website, Emailing facility, an Events Management System, inbuilt Payment Gateway, Campaign Manager and Microsoft Outlook integration.
Click on the button below to find out more and to register.
We have a broad range of fantastic National and International speakers to share their expert knowledge. Hover over speaker to find out more.
IAN TAYLOR NZ Founder/Managing Director at Animation Research l Profoundly inspiring, deeply thought provoking, refreshingly authentic – prepare to be informed educated and inspired by this humble, accomplished and multi awarded innovator. Ian challenges the status quo of our societies and addresses important social issues relating to our educational system and its impact on our people. The switched on, creative, solutions focused, ‘Don’t see why not!’ thinking of this innovator will stay with you for ever.
KAREN GATELY Author, speaker, Adviser, Coach and Educator l Karen is a highly-acclaimed human performance and leadership expert. She is a passionate educator who began her career as a teacher and continues her love of teaching through the work she does with schools and businesses across Australia. She provides coaching, advice and workshops aimed at enabling school boards, principals, leadership teams and students to be at their best. She is a prolific writer and media commentator.
CHRISTINE NIXON Chief Commissioner at Victoria Police l Christine Nixon APM is an Australian former police officer who was the chief commissioner of Victoria Police, being the first female chief commissioner in any Australian state police force. After leaving Victoria Police, she was appointed as chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority. Christine was the 19th Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, the first woman to become a police commissioner in Australia.
ANDREW GOSSEN US Executive Director, Digital at Cornell Uni, l Andrew joined Cornell in 2010 from Princeton, where he spent eight years in alumni affairs in a number of diverse roles. His main focus is using digital technologies, including social media, to build audiences and mobilize them on behalf of Cornell. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton and a doctorate in social anthropology from Harvard University. He is a social media strategist with a strong Advancement background.
BRENDA TOURNIER UK Associate Director, Alumni Relations and Advancement, University of Portsmouth l Brenda has worked in the field of University Advancement for 15 years, following a varied career that ranges from marketing management, business consulting and community relations to several successful years as an entrepreneur. Recently, she moved from her role at the University of Western Australia to lead a budding Advancement team at the University of Portsmouth in the UK.
KRISTA SLADE US Ex-Director, Strategic Partnerships University of Toronto l Krista Slade has worked in educational advancement for 25+ years, building a global career with institutions such as the University of Toronto, University of Melbourne, CASE and the Rhodes Scholarships. She has extensive experience in alumni engagement, institutional strategy, principal gift fundraising and volunteer management. She is a CASE Laureate and Crystal Apple recipient.
SIMON JONES UK Director of Development- Manchester Grammar School l He was educated at MGS, Exeter and Bordeaux Universities, before completing his MBA at the University Of Leicester School of Management UK. After an academic career teaching geography, Simon has lead the Development Office at MGS since 2010, overseeing the School’s quincenteenary celebrations in 2015 and the Next 500 bursary appeal. He is a regular speaker at development and alumni relations conferences around the world.
TAYLOR STOCKDALE US President/Headmaster - The Webb Schools US l Taylor Stockdale is currently serving as the sixth Head of Schools of The Webb Schools, located in Claremont, California. Stockdale is a leading American educator with more than 30 years of experience in independent schools in the United States. He is a noted authority on educational leadership, school governance and is currently in the final stages of a $100 million campaign to celebrate the schools Centennial in 2022.
SOCIAL PROGRAM
Our exciting social program provides an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues and suppliers and most importantly, have fun. The networking focal point of #epadelaide2020, the Welcome Reception at one of the most picturesque sporting grounds in the world the Adelaide Oval, provides the perfect opportunity to catch up with colleagues. Included with your full registration. The exhibitors area will be open throughout the pre-conference and 3 day conference, where you can grab a coffee at one of the stations, meet with suppliers and build new business relationships in a relaxed environment. Our Fuego Gala Evening, featuring exciting entertainment, a highly anticipated event provides the perfect opportunity to network and create amazing memories with colleagues. Join us for the social highlight of the Conference, to be held at the National Wine Centre of Australia. Unwind with friends and colleagues over fabulous food and drinks while being entertained! Dress code: a touch of red!
To find out more about our social program click the button below:
While in Adelaide, don’t miss out on some of the local attractions which have been carefully selected by our local Conference Committee as must see places. Adelaide is a gateway to some of Australia’s best wine country and is home to Australia’s official best restaurant, hotel, wine, gin and beach. As Adelaide has suffered losses during the recent tragic bushfires some of these tours may be unavailable but you are encouraged to help support Adelaide tourism as much as possible as locals try to rebuild and bring their beautiful tourist destination back to its former glory. There is lots of information on some special offers, planning for your trip and also if you decide to extend your visit to enjoy everything that Adelaide has to offer.
Our Conference App is under construction at the moment and will be available end of April, start of May. This app will provide you with an up to date itinerary.
THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Certified Advanced Practitioner Training 2020
There are many reasons to invest in your training and professional development. Upskilling and keeping up with the latest trends and industry changes are high on the list but considering new or alternative methods can also lead to greater efficiency and reduced work burdens. Educate Plus Certified Advancement Training Courses are ‘advancement-focussed’ and are developed with relevance and convenience in mind. The training programs are delivered by and grounded in the day-to-day practice of advancement professionals and our Industry Experts who have a real understanding of what staff need in their roles.
Our vision is to improve the capabilities of participants by providing courses that have an immediate positive impact on their working lives. through engaging and relevant content with maximum value in a short timeframe.
‘Brilliant! Real life presenters who currently work in the sector who added an invaluable array of information and experiences. So many options to take back to my team for consideration. I would highly recommend this course.’ Megan Henriksen – 2018 Participant
Our courses cater for those new to the education sector and those already experienced employees who need information and skills to support their growth and gain more advanced knowledge. Educate Plus provides training that is current and relevant, incorporating leading practice across our four key Advancement pillars:
+ Admissions
+ Fundraising
+ Alumni & Community Relations
+ Marketing & Communications.
The course learning materials are rich with case study scenarios, checklists and sample forms. In 2018 we introduced a new learning management system (LMS) which improved the learning experience for our 75 participants. All of us are time poor, so this course work is designed to be completed and submitted online with an on-line discussion forum so participants can get to know their classmates in advance of the face to face training.
Based on feedback from our students the content and structure of our 2020 courses has been further improved to reflect learning needs and requirements through more workshop and adult learning techniques such as peer-to-peer round table discussions. In addition, a new educational marketing resource, with an Australian focus has been specifically developed for this course. Besides improving everyday skills and knowledge, participating in the Advancement training allows for valuable networking and building of relationships with other like-minded professionals. These collaborations help to improve the learning experience. Through workshops and question and answer sessions our participants can connect, engage and discuss important problems of practice and share solutions. This networking strategy can lead you to individuals who are ready and willing to help. Also connecting with industry peers and leaders can provide unique growth and learning opportunities for participants.
Educate Plus is keen to offer this experience as part of its service delivery by bringing together diverse professionals and connecting them with each other in-person and online through the learning management system. In our experience participants offer insights based on their own experiences, discuss professional challenges and offer encouragement and support, as well as professional expertise.
Upcoming Certified Advancement Practitioner Training
The 2020 Certified Advancement Practitioner Training program will be held in Melbourne on 7/8 May. We will be running the following courses:
+ Admissions
+ Fundraising
+ Alumni & Community Relations
+ Marketing & Communications.
Each of the courses outline the basic principles underpinning contemporary practice and standards in that stream. These courses are suitable for beginner to intermediate-level Advancement practitioners.
Registrations for the Certified Advancement Practitioner Training are open now. From past experience we do anticipate that some courses will sell out. If you have any suggestions and feedback on our training programs, please do not hesitate to write to sheila@educateplus.edu.au.
One of the many benefits on offer with your Educate Plus Membership is our Mentoring program. Educate Plus recently subscribed to, what we believe to be, the world’s leading online mentoring platform.
This is an innovative, new mentoring platform enables users to take control of their own mentoring activities.
We already have 79 users, 45 mentors and 50 mentees up and running on the platform. With 26 active mentoring partnerships in place we are receiving very positive feedback on the platform and on the relationships that have been formed:
” John has given me some ideas and thoughts about how to improve our fundraising. He has been honest and forthcoming with help.”
” I met with Mike recently for the first time and it was fantastic to talk about some of the hurdles I face at work, especially with helping my school Board understand the importance of some of the initiatives I would like to roll out. It was also great to chat to Mike about what other career paths are available to me as a fundraiser – such as in the tertiary industry, which I am not familiar with at all.”
” The meeting room on the platform has enabled me to be mentored by someone in another state. Fantastic!”
” We have exchanged emails and I have shared a presentation I gave at the Ed Plus Dunedin conference. Sophie said that she found our meeting very helpful and has been able to put some of things we talked about into practice already.”
” Being able to meet on the platform has meant that we can fit in our catch ups more regularly.”
Joining our Mentoring network is incredibly easy: Just click here and create your profile to get started If you are already on Linkedin most of the work is done for you! Once registered the platform will find you a match and away you go. Alternatively, we can match for you. Just let us know: mentoring@educateplus.edu.au
So, whether you would like to find a mentor to help you set your career goals for 2020 or if you are an experienced practitioner looking to give back to your community jump on board and kick-start the year with a new mentoring partnership.
Here is a short webinar to help you navigate the platform too.
2020 Educate Plus NZ Chapter Professional Development Survey
Thanks to those of you who completed the Professional Development survey sent out in early December. The results were very useful is assisting the NZ Committee to plan professional development offerings for the next two years.
We were pleased to have responses from members across private and state schools and tertiary institutions as well. 60% of responses came from members who work in 1-3 person teams highlighted the prevalence of small offices and part-time, multi-faceted roles throughout our sector. The majority of respondents indicated that they would prefer a half-day morning PD session format that cost up to $140 and included lunch.
After the success of the 2019 NZ Chapter Conference in Dunedin it was great to see that 100% of respondents see value in the relevance and affordability of the “homegrown flagship event” and are planning on attending next year’s 2021 NZ Chapter Conference (venue and date announcement is in the pipeline!).
Finally, and of huge assistance to us for our planning, the range of preferred topics for professional development sessions was varied dependent on respondent responsibilities. Several topics came through repeatedly, and these will be featured in your NZ Chapter “Advancement in Action” initiatives throughout 2020 and 2021:
Bequests and Planned Annual Giving Programmes
Measurement and Reporting Impact and Engagement measurement
Advancement Systems and Procedures Database and Records Management; Legal Matters; Grant Applications
Fundraising appeals and campaigns e.g. Annual Appeals; Online Giving; Major Gifts and Capital Campaigns
Utilising Linked In for Finding Lost Alumni
Institutional Leaders Training
Case Studies and Field Trips to member institutions
The 2020 Educate Plus NZ Professional Development programme got underway with a late afternoon guest speaker and networking event hosted at the University of Canterbury on Wednesday 26th February. The inspiring guest speaker was ex-pat Kiwi Simone Dumergue, Marketing and Communications Manager (Faculty of Science), University of Bath. Local members enjoyed an enlightening practical presentation on the successful S2S (Student-to-Student) marketing approaches adopted by University of Bath.
Educate Plus NZ Chapter members in Canterbury enjoyed the opportunity to gain marketing insights from ex-pat Kiwi and former CPIT Head of Marketing Simone Dumergue currently Marketing and Communications Manager at the University of Bath.
Educate Plus NZ Chapter members in Canterbury enjoyed the opportunity to gain marketing insights from ex-pat Kiwi and former CPIT Head of Marketing Simone Dumergue currently Marketing and Communications Manager at the University of Bath.
Thanks to the University of Canterbury and Chapter President Naomi Wilde (on right) for hosting the after-work network and PD session with Simone Dumergue, Marketing and Communications Manager at the University of Bath.
The two key Professional Development events on offer to all members in the year include a national road show (Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch) in the week of 8th June featuring Australasian advancement experts Dr Alan Watkinson and Ann Badger who will co-present a workshop focussing on Best Practice for Small Office operations and Successful Bequest Programmes.
And of course, in September, advancement practitioners throughout Australasia will be gathering in Adelaide for the 2020 Educate Plus International Conference from Tuesday 8th (Pre-Conference Masterclasses and Workshops) until Friday 11th September. For details including conference programme and registration costs head to https://www.epadelaide2020.edu.au/
Thank you again to those members who took the time to respond to our Professional Development survey – it’s very reassuring to know that the programme being delivered over the next two years is what you want and need!
