HBCU Digest September 8, 2010 Webinar Technology Creates New Culture of Giving, Engagement for Shaw Alumni As Shaw University prepares to name a new president tomorrow, the South's oldest HBCU is developing new strengths in fundraising and alumni engagement. Utilizing technology and a clear call to improve Shaw's financial standing, alumni are ready and waiting for the new leadership to catch up to their initiatives. Responding to a fundraising call to action from interim President Dr. Dorothy C. Yancy last October, the Shaw University National Alumni Association raised more than $480,000 in less than a year, and Association officials attribute most of the campaign's success to common alumni ties made stronger through the world wide web. "We believe we were able to raise exactly $484,400.88 from about 861 donors primarily through the use of webinars," says Shaw National Alumni Association President Emily Perry. "Any alumnus of Shaw could join to share information amongst alumni chapters, and to ask questions." Perry says that the use of webinar meeting technology empowered alumni to not only engage with chapter and national association business, but to interact with university officials about financial statements, planning and vision for future projects. Alumni chapters and individuals were informed by email correspondence and telephone calls about the quarterly conferences, which were often attended by high-level Shaw officials. "Dr. Yancey participated in two of them, and we'd like to see the new president to participate in them as well," says Perry. Larry A. Williams, Regional Vice President of the Shaw National Alumni Association, says that the webinars were "very worthwhile and very informative," and believes that they made a unique difference in persuading alumni to give. "Because we are now more transparent, it helps to raise more money because they can see and hear exactly what is the first-hand information. People have always said they didn't know what was going on, and now they can't make that case. When people feel that they are a part of something, they become more willing to give." A "significant portion" of the 861 donations made to the campaign were made by new donors, Perry says. Perry and Williams say that there are plans underway for regional Association meeting to be conducted by webinar to ease the traveling and cost burden for members associated with on-site meetings. Plans are also underway for the Association to use online meeting methods to engage new alumni. The national board will soon meet to determine a new fundraising goal, which should be publicized by October and inclusive of younger Association members. "Before new graduates leave the university, we want to know what they are thinking and try to figure out what we need to do to get their suggestions and feedback." SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org www.hbculibraries.org 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.