RisingTogether
Five organizations serve WSSU alumni. Today they plan, store data and talk to the Ramily separately. This page lays out how better strategy, shared data and one coordinated voice can close the gap, and what alumni and leadership can each do about it.
Where WSSU sits today, and the three-year target. HBCU alumni already give at about 10%, so the culture of giving is there. The gap comes from friction in how WSSU plans, tracks and communicates.
Five Voices, One Ramily
The Foundation, the National Alumni Association, the Office of Advancement, the Board of Visitors and the Office of Alumni Engagement each do essential work. Flip the map to see the difference a shared council makes. Tap any organization to see its role.
Six Points of Friction
None of these is one office's fault. Each is a gap between offices, which is why the fixes are shared.
Strategic Thinking
Merge direction, not organizations. Every entity keeps its board, charter and fiduciary role. What changes is how they plan, measure and show up for alumni.
The giving gap, in context
Figures as cited in the Rising Together plan (April 2026). Approximate.
Five guiding principles
The three-year arc
Data Management
Giving, event attendance, NAA membership and board interactions live in different systems. A shared data standard turns them into one view of each alum, so outreach starts from what WSSU already knows.
- Same field names in every office
- Data captured at every event
- Privacy and access rules agreed once
- A minimum viable build first, not a full replacement
Alumni already show up digitally
Early results from a previous WSSU Alumni Mobile App rollout, run through the WSSU Foundation. Even a first version drew steady use, which shows the appetite for a digital home for alumni.
Previous WSSU Alumni Mobile App implementation through the WSSU Foundation · results as of April 2023 (Advancement Technology & Marketing roadmap).
Communication
Most alumni hear from WSSU twice a year: before Homecoming and when a gift is requested. A strong relationship sounds different. It's steady, it's personal, and most of it has nothing to do with money.
A healthier message mix
A suggested balance for a year of alumni communication. Asks come last and least.
Speak to their interests
An alum who marched in the band and lives in Charlotte should get a different year than a nursing grad in Atlanta. Pick an affinity group to see what a tailored year of outreach looks like.
A year of communication
Something worth hearing every month. Dots show the purpose of each month's main messages. Tap a month for the details.
Every channel has a job
Suggested roles and cadence, so each channel does what it's best at and alumni aren't hit with the same message five times.
Year-Round Ramily
Homecoming is the peak, not the whole mountain. When alumni network, meet up, serve and gather in chapters all year, Homecoming fills itself. Tap a stream to see examples.
From Senior to Legacy
Today, many seniors graduate and don't hear from WSSU until a request to give arrives about 18 months later. A designed journey keeps them connected the whole way.
Find the Right Door
Most alumni can't name which office does what. Pick what you need and we'll point you to the right place.
Your Part