We recently sat down with Sarah, who is the Director of Community Engagement at Cannon School, as she took us through why relationship-building is key to long-term success in Advancement.
Discover AI Summary
• Cultivate true belonging, not just events: Shift your focus from merely organizing activities to intentionally creating spaces where every constituent feels seen and valued, which is key for deeper alumni and parent engagement.
• Reignite connections with early champions: Make a concerted effort to reconnect with your institution's foundational alumni, ensuring they feel remembered and integrated into your current story, which can revitalize long-term donor participation.
• Innovate parent engagement strategies: Adapt to changing family dynamics by making involvement more accessible and flexible, prioritizing their genuine connection to the school over just their time or financial contributions.
• Understand the ripple effect of engagement: Recognize that strong alumni and parent involvement directly enhances student experiences and supports faculty, building a connected community ecosystem that benefits the entire institution.
• Prioritize human connection over technology: While tools like AI can be helpful, always remember that genuine relationship-building through personal touches and heartfelt communication is irreplaceable for cultivating lasting loyalty and support.
"We're not just building events. We're building belonging."
—Sarah Sooklal, Director of Community Engagement, Cannon School
At Cannon School, Sarah Sooklal does more than plan events. She builds bridges. As the Director of Community Engagement, Sarah’s work spans alumni relations, parent engagement, volunteer coordination, and community programming - all wrapped in a passion for creating spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.
With a relatively small but mighty advancement team and a young alumni base just crossing the 2,000 mark, Sarah brings energy and empathy to every part of her work, embodying what community-building truly means in a school setting.
One of Sarah’s proudest accomplishments is reconnecting with Cannon’s earliest alumni; the foundational classes who helped shape the school’s identity.
“I never want them to feel forgotten. Their support is what got us here.”
Through intentional outreach and genuine relationship-building, Sarah has made these alumni feel seen, valued, and most importantly, part of the current story. It’s not just stewardship; it’s restoration.
With shifts in family dynamics and time availability, parent engagement has evolved. Sarah is leading the charge in redefining what that looks like - coordinating volunteer opportunities, reimagining participation, and making sure all parents, regardless of how much time they can give, feel part of the school community.
“We’re asking how we can bring people back into the fold—not just for their time or their money, but for their heart.”
Sarah doesn’t view engagement in a silo. To her, stronger alumni and parent involvement directly enhances the student experience, and that ripple effect fuels her motivation daily.
“When our alumni or parents are more involved, our teachers are better supported. Our students are better supported. It’s all connected.”
From supporting teachers to creating confidence for incoming families, Sarah’s work is rooted in building a community ecosystem that nurtures everyone.
Looking forward, Sarah is focused on deepening parent engagement - especially as two-parent working households and post-COVID realities shift how families interact with schools. Her vision is to make involvement more accessible, flexible, and rewarding.
And while technology (including AI) plays a supporting role in her work, Sarah is clear on one thing: human connection is irreplaceable.
“AI is a great tool, but it can’t replace remembering something personal or writing a thank-you note.”
Inspired by Sarah’s story?
Connect with her on LinkedIn and don’t forget to nominate the next advancement trailblazer for the #TheOG50!
Table of Contents
Subscribe
See how modern advancement teams bring alumni engagement and fundraising together.
“You don’t need to chase shiny things to make a difference—just do the work, stay grounded, and focus on what truly matters.”
— Tyler Reich, AVP for Advancement and Executive Director of University Relations, Willamette University
We recently caught up with Tyler to talk about his quietly powerful $160M campaign, a complete rethink of alumni communications, and his philosophy of doing the work that matters.
Tyler is the AVP for Advancement/Executive Director of University Relations at Willamette University. With over 18 years of experience, he has successfully closed significant gifts, implemented data-driven programs, and achieved notable results in team expansion, volunteer engagement, and annual fund growth. Tyler's approach combines innovation and data-driven decision-making with the art of relationship-building. He believes in creating joyful philanthropic experiences and meaningful donor engagement.
Willamette wrapped up a seven-year comprehensive campaign in 2023, exceeding its $150M goal with $160M raised - all without ever making a public announcement. When the pandemic hit, Tyler and team made the bold decision to reallocate campaign launch resources to student support instead.
That meant no “campaign” fanfare. No glossy countdowns. Just results.
They later celebrated the impact through storytelling and video, highlighting what the institution accomplished thanks to donors - without ever calling it a campaign. Now that’s impact, minus the noise.
Tyler led an 18-month overhaul of Willamette’s alumni magazine, transitioning from siloed, outdated publications to one unified storytelling vehicle.
The result? A modern, institution-wide magazine that tells the stories of “Willamette characters” solving the world’s wicked problems. Outdated class notes and obituaries were moved online for timeliness and sensitivity.
The printed version now focuses purely on powerful stories and has already won multiple national awards. With 38,000+ households reached annually, it’s become a lasting engagement tool - one that even alumni spouses have requested to receive.
Understanding today’s alumni preferences, Tyler’s team created a hybrid model - class notes, updates, and social content online for real-time engagement; rich storytelling in print for longevity.
When Tyler saw the magazine in a local dentist’s office (a proud alum’s waiting room), it was a full-circle moment: “That’s our work, sitting right there in the wild.”
Now post-campaign, Tyler is focused on foundation-building over trend-chasing. That means:
Tyler believes that thoughtful, strategic tech adoption—done right—can power deeper, more personal alumni engagement. But it must always serve the mission, not replace the people.
Tyler Reich is proof that lasting change doesn’t always need a spotlight. Whether he’s leading a $160M campaign without a big reveal or rebuilding alumni communications from scratch, Tyler stays rooted in impact and relationships.
Want to follow Tyler’s journey? Here’s his LinkedIn.
#TheOG50: The one with Tyler Reich
We recently caught up with Tyler from Willamette University to talk about his quietly powerful $160M campaign, a complete rethink of alumni communications, and his philosophy of doing the work that matters.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
“Giving Days are my jawn. If you let me, I’ll turn them into your biggest fundraising flex.”
— Julie Donohue, Director of Annual Giving, Tower Hill School
We recently caught up with Julie to talk about her record-shattering Giving Days, and how she turned three separate traditions into major revenue drivers for the school.
Julie is a talented professional who excels in designing engaging ways for constituents to understand the impact of giving. Her expertise in digital, print, and experiential design has garnered recognition, with designs featured in AGN's "best of" sample library. Notably, she founded the University of Delaware's successful giving day, achieving remarkable growth and fundraising success. Now, Julie continues to make a positive impact on the Annual Fund program at Tower Hill School.
Before Julie joined Tower Hill, their Founders Day Giving campaign brought in $138K at most. Under her leadership, that number climbed to $157K. Hiller Heroes Founders Day allows donors to celebrate faculty and staff through heartfelt shout-outs, giving them a rewarding sense of giving back and gratitude. A more community-driven twist? Yes. More dollars? Also yes.
Tower Hill’s Field Day—a century-old tradition—used to raise around $30K. Julie helped elevate it into the competitive, spirit-fueled giving challenge between Green vs. White teams. This year, they raised a whopping $150K. That’s a 500% increase and proof that legacy can meet innovation and still bring in serious results.
Giving Tuesday was already a fixture, but Julie saw more potential. She optimized the messaging and design strategy to push results further, helping significantly increase returns in just a few short years.
Julie’s next mission? Building out the school’s first-ever Loyalty Society. After noticing multi-decade donors weren’t being meaningfully recognized, she’s determined to design a stewardship program that honors consistency just as much as size of gift. Her vision: “Let’s make loyalty feel legendary.”
Julie’s ability to inject creativity, storytelling, and strategy into everyday fundraising is what makes her a powerhouse in advancement. From leading three giving days to launching a Loyalty Society, she’s turning intention into impact, one initiative at a time.
Want to follow Julie’s work or connect with her? Here’s her LinkedIn.
#TheOG50: The one with Julie Donohue
We recently caught up with Julie Donahue from Tower Hill School to talk about her record-shattering Giving Days, and how she turned three separate traditions into major revenue drivers for the school.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
.svg)
.webp)
.webp)
%20(1).webp)