Homecomings are usually a great opportunity for educational institutions to raise funds. With many alumni returning and campus spirits high, we’re sure that most institutions are already deep into their preparations already.

While auctions, themed events, merchandise sales, and event ticketing are all pretty much part of every institution’s homecoming inventory today, we’d like to introduce you to some of the less popular but upcoming ways that can help you get the most out of your fundraising efforts this homecoming season.

1. Peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising

Take advantage of the community spirit of homecoming with a P2P fundraiser. These fundraisers allow your supporters to create their own pages where they can reach out to their network of friends, family, and colleagues. This is a great way to promote trust and get your active supporters more involved in your fundraising. Check out our blog earlier this year to learn more about P2P fundraising and how to use it effectively.

2. Matching gifts

Over the past few years, matching gifts have emerged as a great way to maximize donations. Segment your potential donors that have matching gift opportunities and personalize your strategy accordingly. They are also a great way to celebrate the career success of your alumni.

3. Virtual and hybrid events

While there is no substitute for physical presence, enhancing your events with virtual or hybrid capabilities will go a long way in drawing in interest and donations from alumni who cannot attend your homecoming events in person. For example, you can live-stream your homecoming parade through a platform that allows online donations. Be sure to make your virtual attendees feel included. They might just be tempted to make the trip next time!

4. Value-driven Giving Days

Organizing a Giving Day during your homecoming is not a new thing. However, alumni today want to see more value out of their contributions. You can make your Giving Days more intriguing by matching donations, highlighting donors and recipients, or offering exclusive benefits such as tickets or merchandise to donors.

5. Giving Societies

If your institution has a giving society, homecoming is a great opportunity to give back to their generosity by providing exclusive benefits such as discounts, free access, or extra tickets to share. If you don’t have one, homecoming is still a great opportunity to build one, as it provides a good opportunity to find out your most engaged and generous donors. The goal with giving societies and homecoming is to foster a sense of value and gratitude towards your most active benefactors (or to begin that path).

6. Highlight new initiatives

With so many people involved, your homecoming events are a great opportunity to announce or promote your new initiatives, such as mentorships, career partnerships with businesses, scholarship funds, or a crowdfunding campaign. While not a direct fundraising strategy, they are a great opportunity to inspire your alumni and help them visualize the value of their contributions, ultimately inspiring loyalty and support.

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Even beyond your fundraising efforts, your homecoming 2024 is an invaluable step in your alumni relations efforts. By having the right infrastructure in place, you can collect valuable insights, user touchpoints, and feedback to make your next homecoming even better.

With that, we hope we’ve given you plenty to think about as you prepare for an exciting homecoming season. If you are done with or in the middle of one, we hope we have inspired some additional innovation through our suggestions.