Alumni as Advocates

Mike Dean

Tipping Point Strategies

Agenda for Today

• Why Advocacy?

• Key Principles of Success• Case Study at the University of Illinois• Q & A

Challenges Facing Higher Education

• Increased pressure for limited state resources• Cost of Higher Education continues to rise

(health care and energy costs put a strain on budgets)

• Can’t continue to raise tuition to make up for funding cuts

How do we Respond?

1. Denial

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

How do we Respond?

Engage Advocates

Not This Advocate These Advocates

Why is Grassroots Advocacy?

• Legislators listen to their constituents• Achieve a balanced approach• Distribute messages to the community more

effectively• Create a human face• Build a sense of community• Avoid having messages filtered through the

media or campus interest groups

Principles for Success

1. Think about the structure and staffing– Where should the program be housed– Staff/consultant– Grasstops vs. Grassroots

2. How to create buy-in– Campus leadership must be supportive– Demonstrate success– Engage campus leadership to interact with

advocates

Principles for Success

3. Use technology to cast a wide net– E-mail is an easy way to generate a lot of contacts

with elected officials– Begin communicating regularly

4. Conduct targeted outreach to alumni with influence– These contacts are harder to get

Website is your hub

Principles for Success

5. Develop a plan– Necessary to keep all the actors in sync– Develop a message arc

6. Message matters– Must be compelling– Develop a theme that people will understand

Create a Theme

Principles for Success

7. Create a grassroots committee– Engage all stakeholders– Will help create buy-in and ownership

8. Evaluate your program regularly– Survey supporters– Visit with key stakeholders

More Information

Visit – www.TippingPointStrategies.org

Mike@TippingPointStrategies.org