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.
Summary
• Consider a less traditional path for your next campaign: Willamette University quietly raised $160M without a public launch by reallocating resources to student support during the pandemic, proving that focusing on genuine impact can resonate deeply with donors. This unique approach highlights how prioritizing mission over fanfare can lead to significant fundraising success.
• Reimagine your alumni magazine as a unified storytelling tool: Discover how Willamette transformed their publication into an award-winning magazine focused on powerful narratives, moving class notes and obituaries online for better timeliness and sensitivity. This strategic shift resulted in a print piece so engaging that even alumni spouses requested subscriptions, boosting alumni engagement.
• Emphasize celebrating impact, not just fundraising numbers: Willamette chose to highlight what donors helped accomplish through compelling stories and videos, rather than traditional "campaign" fanfare, demonstrating a powerful way to engage supporters post-campaign. This approach fostered deeper connections by showcasing real-world outcomes.
• Implement a smart hybrid strategy for alumni communications: Tyler’s team effectively combines real-time digital updates and social content with a rich, print magazine for profound storytelling, catering to diverse alumni preferences. This balanced model ensures wide reach and lasting engagement, meeting alumni where they are.
• Focus on fundamental building blocks for long-term growth: After their campaign, Willamette is investing in alumni surveys, evolving virtual programs, and exploring AI to personalize communications without losing the human touch. This proactive foundation-building ensures sustained engagement and prepares the ground for future fundraising success.
“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.
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“I work with great people. That’s what makes this job easier.”
— Joe Volin, Associate Vice President for Constituent Engagement, Illinois Tech
We recently caught up with Joe to talk about his work on alumni engagement, how he's using AI to scale relationships, and why sometimes, the best strategy is just listening.
When we first recognized Joe as part of the original 50 Under 50 list, he was already making waves at Illinois Tech. Today, as Associate VP for Constituent Engagement, he continues to build meaningful connections between the university and its alumni - but with a much bigger toolbox.
Joe now leads a team of nine and oversees alumni engagement, annual giving, boards of advisors, and the Mies van der Rohe Society. But beyond the titles and org charts, what really drives Joe? “I work with great people who are passionate about what they do. That’s what keeps me going,” he says.
Joe led the transition from their previous alumni platform to Illinois Tech Connect, powered by Almabase. The change wasn’t just a software swap - it was a total reimagining of how alumni connect with their alma mater.
With a sharp focus on user experience, Joe’s team merged the engagement platform with their alumni database and even extended it to support mentoring. The result? An increase from ~2,000 active users to nearly 4,000 engaged alumni - and a new way to define and measure engagement meaningfully.
Ahead of the curve, Illinois Tech became one of the first to adopt Givzey’s virtual engagement officer, Scarlet. The adoption of Scarlet was led by Susan Lewers. Since October, Scarlett has been managing a portfolio of 1,000 alumni - digesting emails, tracking interactions, and driving outreach. Joe credits Scarlet with helping do more with the same resources and sees AI as a core part of future advancement strategy.
Joe’s not just about gut feel - he’s got the reports to back it up. Following an all-alumni survey, Illinois Tech now knows their most active volunteers are from the 90s and 2000s, while their most generous donors are from the 70s and 80s. These insights have helped refine engagement strategies and personalize outreach based on where alumni are in their life journey.
With a strong, cross-functional team and data-led strategies, Joe’s eyes are set on deepening engagement across decades, expanding mentorship, and unlocking more ways for alumni to feel seen and valued - even as the world shifts toward AI and automation.
Want to connect with Joe?
#TheOG50: The one with Joe Volin
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"Storytelling is how we make education matter; whether you're applying for a scholarship or donating one."
—Rebecca Long, Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications, Lane Community College
If you’ve ever seen a Lane Community College campaign that made you stop, think, or feel something; that was probably Rebecca Long’s handiwork.
As Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications, Rebecca leads a small-but-mighty five-person team responsible for everything from advertising and media relations to capital campaign strategy and student outreach. But behind every post, pitch, and print piece lies Rebecca’s secret weapon: powerful storytelling.
When Rebecca first stepped into her role at Lane, marketing felt like shouting into a void—mass emails with little personalization, ads with no targeting, and campaigns designed for everyone and no one at once.
“We were a ‘spray and pray’ operation. We’d hope something would land, but we weren’t measuring what worked or why.”
Under Rebecca’s leadership, the team now creates persona-based marketing strategies with clearly defined audiences, tailored messages, and measurable outcomes. Whether it’s a scholarship campaign for first-gen students or a targeted ad series promoting Lane’s aviation program, everything starts with data and ends with impact. She’s also built intentional bridges with the alumni and development offices to ensure that every story and appeal is relevant—not just another touchpoint, but a meaningful one.
It was a snowy day in Eugene, Oregon, and the power was flickering. Rebecca was unsure about submitting an expensive entry to the prestigious PRSA Silver Anvil Awards. She made a deal with herself: if the power stayed on, she’d go for it.
It stayed on.
Months later, Lane became the first community college to ever win in the “Integrated Communications” category.
“I always said I’d win one someday. I just never dreamed I actually would.”
Lane is a community college, but for many alumni, it’s also a turning point. Rebecca taps into that emotional connection to re-engage former students—not with gimmicks, but with genuine storytelling and clear invitations to be part of Lane’s ongoing mission.
When the college launched a new RN-to-BSN completion program, her team used alumni filters on Almabase to identify and reach out to former nursing students—bringing them back not just for nostalgia, but for a new opportunity. She also partnered with the alumni team to collect and showcase stories for Lane’s 60th anniversary—transforming the celebration into a moment of collective pride and visibility for graduates who may have felt overlooked.
“We’re not asking alumni to remember us. We’re showing them how we’ve remembered them—and how they still fit into the story.”
Rebecca sees alumni not as a list to be mined, but as people with chapters still unfolding—and she’s building the bridge for them to return, contribute, and belong.
Rebecca’s goal is to build on Lane’s new era of data-driven communications using audience insights, story mining, and refined KPIs to craft messaging that actually lands.
Her north star? Making sure every message counts. No more shouting into the void.
And while AI plays a supporting role in helping her brainstorm interview questions or understand technical concepts, Rebecca is firm on one thing:
“AI enhances what we do, but it doesn’t replace it.”
Inspired by Rebecca’s story?
Connect with her on LinkedIn and don’t forget to nominate the next communications changemaker for the #TheOG50!
#TheOG50: The one with Rebecca Long
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