international colleges, universities and independent schools

the world is shrinking

Universities worldwide increasingly compete for the best students, the best faculty, and the best research facilities. The leading universities recognize that to effectively compete, they must freely engage in the exchange of best minds and ideas – joint research projects, faculty partnerships and student exchange programs.

They must also compete for resources. The best universities must create cultures of alumni engagement and philanthropy, and this is also achieved through the mutual exchange of best practices and ideas. We have much to learn from each other

In 2007, in collaboration with Vice Chancellor Ian Chubb and the Australian National University, Mr. Dollhopf launched The Yale Global Alumni Leadership Exchange (YaleGALE). The mission of the exchange was to share best practices in alumni relations to create mutually beneficial cultures of alumni engagement and philanthropy

Since that pioneering initiative, YaleGALE has engaged thousands of staff and alumni from more than 250 leading universities around the world – in conferences, workshops, seminars, and mentoring programs – to study and promote effective alumni relations giving. Members of the Yale delegations who travel abroad are experienced volunteer leaders in their classes, regional alumni associations, shared interest groups or graduate and professional schools.

Mr. Dollhopf lectures extensively at universities in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America helping universities answer these questions:

Why do people volunteer and give to help others? Exploring shared philanthropic traditions and values in other cultures.

Why would alumni give to their universities? Identifying the charitable aspirations of university alumni around the world.

What do alumni want from their universities? Understanding the needs and expectations of alumni previously not engaged with universities.

How can universities foster alumni cultures of giving? Negotiating the necessary steps to create an alumni community willing to give back to their universities.

What are the university resources necessary to support alumni relations and development programs?
Designing the organization – staff and budget –to support alumni affairs.

Where do we start? Discerning the mission, vision and goals of meaningful alumni relations efforts through effective strategic planning.

inspire alumni service and outreach

Build programs for giving back to society. Many programs can be implemented without significant investment of resources – both staff and financial – if the right volunteers are engaged. Dollhopf Associates offers hands-on program management for:

Alumni service corps | short term “peace corps” like projects, domestically and abroad, for alumni, family, and friends.
Community service | engaging alumni in ways to give back to local communities through volunteer service, thought leadership, educational forums, and leveraging of social networks.
Global alumni leadership conferences | leveraging alumni networks to expand the economy of leadership ideas and practice.

Alumni ambassador programs for student recruitment | programs to inspire young people around the world to stay in school and consider a liberal arts education.
Cultural exchanges | sharing traditions of philanthropy and volunteerism with academic, NGOs, and government institutions around the world.
Alumni choruses, bands, and orchestras | performing arts groups dedicated to preserving school traditions and changing lives through the power of music.