Strategic Direction
3-Year Progress Report
University of Cincinnati Alumni Association & Annual Giving
University of Cincinnati Alumni Association Strategic Direction: 3-Year Progress Report
STRATEGIC OVERVIEW
Bearcats For Life: Thy Loyal Children
UC alumni engagement strengthens the university’s reputation, deepens relationships, and drives philanthropy. Since launching our strategic direction in FY23, UCAA has delivered experiences that are valued by alumni, build enduring and mutually beneficial relationships, inspire loyalty and financial support, elevate the institution’s reputation, and involve alumni in meaningful activities to advance the institution’s mission. Engaged alumni are activated across four modes of engagement: philanthropic, volunteer, experiential, and communication. Over three years, our work has delivered measurable impact while advancing the promise of Next Lives Here.
Signature moments like Homecoming, Alumni Celebration, Alumni Week, UC Alumni Mural at BLINK and Bearcats on the Road have built enduring pride and visibility. The UC Alumni Mural, on full display at BLINK which drew more than 2 million to the experience, elevated UC on a global stage.
Game watches and Big 12 integration extended Bearcat pride nationally, engaging first-time participants and energizing networks. Coupled with these highlights were hundreds of alumni events staged annually across regions and colleges — reunions, professional networking, affinity celebrations, and spirited fan experiences. Together, these touchpoints connected alumni to their classmates, colleges, and communities, ensuring UC remains at the center of their personal and professional lives.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF
Annual Giving Performance (FY23-FY25)
GIFTS UNDER $25K $65.18M
DONORS
ENGAGEMENT BY THE NUMBERS
362,788
LIVING
167,584 ENGAGED ALUMNI
Annual average across four modes of engagement
1,000+ ALUMNI EXPERIENCES
Delivered over three years
68,571 PARTICIPANTS
25 SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES
Annual average, including Homecoming, Alumni Week, Alumni Celebration, and Giving Days
// avg. 35,380 annually (–17% // national avg. –20%)
$1,000+ DONORS
7,700+ annual average, providing a strong base of leadership support and fueling future major gift potential (+5.75%)
DONOR RETENTION
Avg. 59% over three years (–3.5%)
GIVING DAYS
$11M+ raised across six urgency campaigns (24,000+ donors cumulatively)
DIGITAL PHILANTHROPY CENTER
$1.35M raised // 38,000+ interactions // 100+ student fundraisers annually
TOTAL ALUMNI GIVING
$312,760,019 in alumni giving (recognition credit)
RECOGNIZED ALUMNI DONORS
17,072 annual average
Omnichannel campaigns like UC Day of Giving and Giving Tuesday delivered record-breaking results — proving the strength of Bearcats united in philanthropy. The Digital Philanthropy Center demonstrates Coop 2.0 in action, training hundreds of student fundraisers while generating new alumni and donor relationships, strengthening annual support, and surfacing major and planned giving leads.
AMPLIFY EXCELLENCE
Drive Brand Awareness + Elevate Reputation
Marketing & Communications Impact (FY23-FY25)
1,100+ PROJECTS
Avg. Integrated Marketing projects annually
355K ALUMNI CONTACT UPDATES
Awards & Recognition
212 alumni honored across 45 award programs 692 alumni profiles, plus 46 articles publised to UC News
Spotlighting Students for Philanthropy
The Fall Student Impact Campaign, UCAA’s largest college-specific annual giving appeal, shared powerful student stories to inspire giving. Through targeted direct mail to 50,000+ recipients annually, follow-up emails, UC News features, dedicated giving pages, social media, IP ads, and DPC outreach, the campaign connected alumni and donors to areas of greatest need across UC colleges.
Through omnichannel campaigns, UCAA has amplified UC’s brand on a national and global stage. From debuting the refreshed Bearcats For Life video to producing omnichannel campaigns reaching millions, alumni stories and successes continue to elevate UC’s reputation.
This year, UCAA debuted a refreshed brand video capturing the energy, connection, and Bearcat pride that thrive long after graduation. Showcased across web, social, and live events, it inspires alumni engagement and strengthens UC’s global network.
BOLDLY DEFINING NEXT: A Poem for UC Alumni
UCAA commissioned UC grad Ejiro ‘EJ’ Agoba, Bus ’24, CEAS ’25, to write and perform Boldly Defining Next, a poem celebrating the bond Bearcats share with each other, their alma mater, and the Alumni Association. Featured across web, email, and social media, the video drew over 104,003 views, 1,969 interactions, with a 51.5% email open rate.
CATALYZE HUMAN POTENTIAL
Invest in Student and Alumni Success + Extend the Bearcat Promise
Alumni & Student Success Initiatives
LAUNCH OF CAREERNORTH DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORM
235 alumni onboarded in CY25, its inaugural year
BEARCATS SUCCESS SERIES: BEARCATS/HEALTH, /LEAD, /INNOVATE
engaging alumni in professional growth and lifelong learning
STUDENT-TO-ALUMNI PIPELINE PROGRAMS
like Student Alumni Council, Senior 100, Dinner with Bearcats, and UCYP create an alumni culture on campus and prepare current students and new graduates for life after college
ARM AND EMPOWER ALUMNI NETWORK VOLUNTEERS as ambassadors through Annual Network Leaders Conference
INITIATED NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH UC HEALTH’S OSHER CENTER for Integrative Health to deliver wellness and well-being offerings to alumni
Together, these initiatives extend the Bearcat Promise beyond graduation — investing in lifelong learning, career advancement, and leadership development while positioning alumni success as a driver of UC’s reputation.
LOOKING AHEAD TO FY26 AND BEYOND
Building on three years of momentum, UCAA will continue to drive alumni engagement, philanthropy, and brand impact with a focus on:
Partnering with UC Marketing + Communications to deliver a new Bearcats for Life campaign, closely aligning with UC’s primary brand strategy to ensure clarity, cohesion, and impact.
Amplifying University of Cincinnati successes over the last 10 years through targeted direct marketing campaigns to alumni.
Increasing lifelong learning and career resources for alumni through CareerNorth, Coursera, Skills@UC, Executive Education Courses, UC Online, OLLI, and UCAA-led alumni success programs and services.
Strengthening UCAA–College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies collaboration, beginning with a Chicago pilot that can scale nationally to other priority cities, increasing alumni involvement in co-op expansion efforts.
Developing a fundraising prospectus and vision for a new Alumni & Welcome Center — a signature facility serving as UC’s front door, uniting alumni and students, promoting student and alumni success and anchoring the lifelong alumni journey.
Expanding partnership with UC Athletics to leverage UCAA’s annual giving omnichannel strategy and infrastructure — advancing athletics fundraising goals through direct marketing, digital outreach, and pipeline development; building a sustainable donor pipeline, engaging alumni and fans, and driving current-use revenue while complementing ticket sales and major gift efforts.
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Alumni are the proof behind and the fuel that powers the promise of Next. ”