Advancement Office Strategic Plan 2025-2030
BACKGROUND AND TENETS FOR SUCCESS
About the Advancement Office
The primary responsibility of the Advancement Office, also known as the Development Office and the Alumni Office, is to develop and maintain relationships that support the MCPHS mission, vision, and strategic priorities in the areas of Alumni engagement, Alumni communication, and philanthropy.
The Advancement Office is located at 179 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA. The Advancement Operations team, which handles gift processing, data reporting, and other operational activities, can be found at 11 Norwich Street, Worcester, MA.
Mission Statement
The Advancement Office builds enduring and mutually beneficial relationships that inspire involvement in meaningful activities, thereby strengthening our community and advancing our mission and the success of all MCPHS Alumni.
Vision Statement
Our office is dedicated to:
Creating meaningful programs, events, and services that strengthen our MCPHS community, foster lifelong connections, and offer opportunities for getting involved and supporting the next generations of graduates.
Elevating the University’s reputation as a global leader in multi-disciplinary health and life science education, inspiring pride and recognition beyond our campus borders.
Sharing the good news about our MCPHS Alumni, friends, and industry partners, and serving as a hub for connection and support.
Tenets for Success: Communicate, Engage, Steward, Curate
Our success will be measured across initiatives by answering the following:
Communication: Are Alumni hearing appropriate and consistent messaging from us?
Volunteerism: Are we curating and promoting meaningful opportunities and, as a result, realizing increased participation?
Connections: Are we meeting Alumni where they are, supporting their network, and increasing our reach beyond the MCPHS community?
Philanthropy: Are we inspiring impactful giving and widening the pool of active donors?
Supporter Appreciation
The Advancement Office appreciates the support and collaboration of our campus partners, especially the Office of the Provost, the deans and program directors, the Planning and Effectiveness Committee (PECOM), and the Strategic Priority External Collaboration Team. Many thanks also go to the members of the Advancement Advisory Committee (AAC), and the Alumni Engagement Strategic Priority Team, whose insight and devotion to the University has been instrumental in the development and implementation of this Plan.
Advancement Advisory Committee (AAC)
Sue Gorman, DBA, Chief Advancement Officer
Maryesther Fournier, BS (1975), Member – Board of Trustees
Heidi Snyder, MBA, BS (1978), Member – Board of Trustees
Anna Morin, PharmD, Associate Provost Worcester/Manchester
Tammy Gravel, EdD, MS, RN, Dean – School of Nursing
Steve Crosby, MA, BSP, RPh, FASC (2001), Associate Professor – School of Pharmacy
The purpose of the AAC is to advise the Chief Advancement Officer on matters related to the priorities and goals identified in this Advancement Office Strategic Plan 20252030, and the Advancement initiatives pertaining to the University’s overall Strategic Priorities and Plan.
Alumni Engagement Strategic Priority Team
Sue Gorman, Chief Advancement Officer
Jeanine Mount, Associate Provost for Academic and Professional Affairs
Patrick Zeller, BS (1990), Chief Affiliations Officer
The purpose of the Alumni Engagement Strategic Priority Team is to understand, make recommendations, and advocate for the Alumni engagement goals and objectives approved by the University.
About our MCPHS Alumni Community
44,139 living Alumni
42,894 are contactable via phone, mail, or email
Employment information on file for 29,876 alums (68% of living Alumni)
Alumni by country and state:
STRATEGIC PLAN OUTLINE
FOR 2025-2030
We are pleased to present the following priorities and goals for the Advancement Office Strategic Plan 2025-2030. This Plan, developed through thoughtful input and collaboration with key stakeholder groups across MCPHS, has received endorsement from MCPHS leadership. It is the guide that will inform our strategy and direct our daily work in the years to come, and the driving force in promoting persistent connectivity to the Alumni and friends of MCPHS.
PRIORITIES AND GOALS
Priority 1: Engagement
Our first priority is to strengthen the University’s enduring relationships with Alumni, from Commencement on through their lifetime. To achieve this, we will engage with both new and established Alumni, invite and encourage their active participation, and deliver lifelong support of worth and significance. By fostering these lasting relationships, we aim to increase the number of Alumni who meaningfully engage with MCPHS and, as a result, gain value for their own journey while also contributing to the success of the University.
Goals: a.) Early Engagement: We will demonstrate a genuine, steadfast interest in students by participating in student events, publicizing who we are and what we deliver as an Alumni Office, and explaining what it means to be an alum.
b.) Lifelong Engagement: To engage Alumni across class years, we will host generationally inclusive events locally, nationally, and internationally, and offer a wide range of Alumni benefits. An Alumni Association with active participation and varied representation will contribute to and advise the Advancement Office team and University at large, on matters important to our Alumni community.
c.) Foster Student-Alumni Connection: For the benefit of all, we will collaborate with campus partners to promote formal and informal Alumni-Student mentoring. That work includes motivating Alumni to participate by educating them on the value to them and the impact on student success. The mentoring work can take many forms, from speaking in classes and hiring interns, to serving as a preceptor, advising on a Capstone or research project, or participating in the formal Alumni-Student Mentor Network through the Career Development Center.
Priority 2: Collaboration
A second priority is to foster strategic internal relationships and partnerships across academic and administrative divisions to expand Alumni engagement, identify and understand fundraising needs, grow institutional reputation, and support the mission, goals, and priorities of the University. This important work will optimize external opportunities for our students, University, and Alumni.
Goals: a.) Enhanced Relationships Between Advancement and The Provost’s Office: The Advancement Office team aims to strengthen connections to the academic deans, program directors, leaders of the Centers for Excellence, and the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA), and to provide support to our schools and programs by engaging Alumni and donors. We seek
to understand and aid in the pursuit of grant, major gift, and corporate sponsorship opportunities that can underwrite both faculty and student success.
b.) Partner with Student Affairs and the Center for Career Development: By creating a robust Alumni mentoring network and communicating regularly with our campus partners, the Advancement Office team can identify opportunities for collaboration and connect Alumni to the important work happening across campus. The desired end result is expanded opportunities for internships, mentoring and career advising, as well as Alumni-Student networks based on shared interests and goals.
c.) Collaborate with Marketing Division: In all of our communications with Alumni, we must ensure alignment with the MCPHS mission and its strategic priorities. As we expand our multi-channel communication, it will be increasingly important to work closely with the Marketing Office to align on consistent messaging to the MCPHS Community.
d.) Support the Admission Division: We appreciate that Alumni can contribute meaningfully to the recruitment of students. To help in that work, the Advancement Office team will understand and champion enrollment goals and invite Alumni to contribute to that success by offering opportunities for engagement.
Priority 3: Communication
A third priority is to deliver tailored messaging that showcases and supports the MCPHS mission, celebrates its achievements, and promotes the value of Alumni engagement. We will accomplish this through targeted and personalized messaging—via a multi-channel communication approach—that fosters a deeper connection with Alumni, donors, and other stakeholders. When we effectively communicate with these target audiences, we will be contributing to the continued growth and robust reputation of MCPHS, building meaningful relationships within and beyond our community, inspiring greater engagement, and driving impactful giving.
Goals:
a.) Alumni Database Maintenance: We will ensure that Alumni data is current in order to sustain constituent outreach, and will optimize sophisticated data management tools to capture and retrieve reliable Alumni information for a myriad of engagement activities.
b.) Website Evolution: The work ahead includes developing community pages to promote small group networks, publishing more Alumni-centered stories and event recaps, promoting the website as a dynamic and useful tool, and driving visits to the website via multi-channel communication. The site should consistently offer robust, up-to-date information and resources.
c.) Steady Communication Campaigns: We will develop and use all channels available to update Alumni on news and opportunities, including generating ongoing, tailored personal and group messaging. To ensure value and engagement, we will listen to and respond to Alumni and constituent needs and feedback and evolve our communications accordingly.
d.) Social Media: To more effectively reach Alumni where they are, we will launch multi-platform, Alumni-owned social media accounts that serve multiple purposes: promote University events and drive attendance, champion University news and Alumni stories, build and fortify brand awareness, and strengthen the sense of community among Alumni.
e.) Alumni Newsletters and Magazines: We will continue to craft and share an Alumni Newsletter that is driven by strategic messaging, reflects the best of MCPHS, and inspires engagement with the University. To further increase brand awareness and build affinity, we intend to resurrect the Bulletin Magazine, publishing two issues per year.
Priority 4: Philanthropy and Stewardship
Philanthropy provides Alumni the opportunity to show their appreciation for their MCPHS experience and the role it plays in their success, to provide future generations of students access to these experiences, and to ensure continued success for MCPHS while increasing the value of their degree.
Goals:
a.) Grow Donors: With a focus on current, lapsed, and first-time donors, we aim to inspire more Alumni and friends to embrace MCPHS as a philanthropic priority by using all available channels to showcase the important work happening across the University. People give to causes that align with their personal values and beliefs, so our story should be values-based in order to cultivate that personal connection.
b.) Engage Alumni and Friends in the MCPHS Mission: Using available resources, the Advancement Office team will identify Alumni and friends with the propensity and capacity to partner with MCPHS. These prospects will be invited to learn more about the University’s mission and work, ways to volunteer (especially in areas in which they hold a passion or keen interest), and how to connect with internships and job opportunities.
c.) Spread Heartfelt Appreciation: MCPHS is honored to have the support of our Alumni and friends. We want to consistently identify opportunities to thank our donors, volunteers, and partners in a way that deeply resonates with them and fully expresses the impact their support has on the success of our University, its students, and faculty.
SUMMATION
The success of this new Advancement Office Strategic Plan relies on collaboration, trust, and effective execution. We believe that its defined priorities and goals will strengthen our community and foster the engagement and support needed to propel MCPHS forward. We are honored to take on this responsibility and recognize that this is only the beginning.