The New School’s approach to a diverse and data-driven advancement team
July 19, 2024
Universities face unprecedented challenges that are forcing leaders to rethink department structures. Advancement is no exception. Advancement Advisory Services partners Jonah Nigh, Senior Vice President of Development and Alumni Engagement, and Jenna Bastian, Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations, from The New School, shared their experiences on a recent episode of our podcast. They shared how they are revamping their institution’s advancement systems – both operationally and culturally.
How Advancement Diversity and Technology Intersect at The New School
From Siloed Systems to Holistic View
Upon joining The New School three years ago, Jonah found an advancement department reliant on a staggering 20+ data management systems. This inefficiency spurred him and Jenna to build a single, university-wide CRM. Partnering with their IT counterparts, they built a customized tool that provides a holistic, 360-degree view of the donor experience. Their vision extends beyond immediate needs, aiming to create a system that tracks a donor’s entire journey, from prospective student to alumni. Their streamlined approach eliminates duplicative data entry, which is a common pain point in cross-departmental projects.
What The New School Learned About Building an Optimized CRM Platform
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1. Secure Strong Leadership Buy-In
Jonah emphasizes the importance of securing buy-in from the full university board. He suggests approaching these (usually mundane) meetings as potential donor meetings, using engaging and straightforward presentations. Jonah built consensus among the advancement team, president, provost, and board by explaining the technical aspects of the data overhaul in simple terms.
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2. Collaboration is Key
Jenna prioritized team cohesion through collaboration and group learning. This enabled clear role assignments and decision-making across multiple departments, including finance, marketing, communications, and the IT team that built the CRM platform. Everyone understood their responsibilities and limitations, which helped project governance.
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3. Patience Pays Off
The project, now successfully launched, has saved countless staff hours. The dashboard eliminates duplicative data entry, freeing up leadership and team time for more strategic initiatives. However, this journey was a year in the making and is still ongoing. The interface is just the first step. They are continuing to work with their staff to educate them on the new system to ensure full adoption.
Effecting Change Beyond Just Metrics
The latter half of the podcast focuses on the importance of true inclusion within the fundraising industry. As a BIPOC leader in a predominately white field, Jonah emphasized the importance of moving beyond diversity rhetoric to achieve a true sense of belonging for BIPOC staff. But before diving into this topic, Jonah clearly defined what DEI really means. He says equity is a choice and inclusion is an action, believing these two crucial aspects of DEI have been muddied over the years. Many skip over these points when discussing DEI efforts, believing that belonging will naturally happen with a diverse workforce. Jonah also emphasized the importance of diversity across levels in the workforce. He emphasized the importance of hiring BIPOC leaders – not just front-line fundraising staff – to create a supportive environment. He also urged fellow advancement leaders to allow hybrid and remote work policies to support their BIPOC staff, as certain communities are unsafe for people of color.
Advancement leaders need to create spaces where BIPOC individuals can work through problems together. Whether executive leadership or a staff member, there needs to be an accessible safe space, like a Zoom meeting or CASE conference, to talk about their experiences. These meetings can feature a variety of topics and serve as a forum for change where one doesn’t already exist.
"Diversity is a fact, equity is a choice, inclusion is an action, and belonging is the result.
"Jonah Nigh, Senior Vice President of Development and Alumni Engagement
The New School
Inspired by The New School’s success story? Join EAB’s Advancement Advisory Services and receive dedicated support on your top priorities. Our team of experts can help you navigate complex challenges, from building a data-driven strategy to fostering a culture of collaboration. For more information, contact us at [email protected].
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