Raising $3 Million can be Easy!
The Right Combination of Alumni Volunteer Enthusiasm, Affinity Connection Coaching and Marketing Communications can be the Key to Capital Campaign Success
Take it from us... Listen to a Campaign Volunteer Himself!

By Gary Jones
Campaign Chair, Gamma Alpha of Sigma Nu at Georgia Tech

This past Homecoming Weekend at Georgia Tech, October 19 and 20, we celebrated the Grand Opening of a beautiful, brand new Sigma Nu house at Georgia Tech. Since 1896, Gamma Alpha of Sigma Nu has prepared men dedicated to promoting professional development and building a strong network among our alumni, so this was a special event indeed.

We have been engaged for the past five years in developing a long-term strategy for the Campaign as well as for the Chapter. And we have been immersed side-by-side with Affinity Connection from the very beginning.

Thus far our alumni association has been resurrected, and we have a new, energetic and enthusiastic leadership in place. The Sigma Nu Housing Corporation has been restructured and is positioned to ensure financial solvency, and to oversee the timely maintenance of the grounds and facilities regarding repairs and improvements.

The ribbon cutting ceremony at Sigma Nu’s Grand Opening celebration. Pictured left to right are Active Commander Adam Pratt, Former Georgia Tech Dean of Students James E. Dull, U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey, Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough, architect Janice Wittschiebe, Campaign Chair Gary Jones, Georgia Tech Athletic Director Dan Radacovich, alumnus Chester Stokes, former House Corporation President Jimmy Trimble and current House Corporation President Alex Brown.

Our newsletters, contact information including email addresses, database, interactive Web site, alumni relations efforts, solicitations, annual giving, etc. all have been reestablished, scrubbed and polished to further engage and embrace our alumni.

[Editor's note: Sigma Nu at Georgia Tech had its highest annual giving EVER in calendar year 2007, finishing with $16,770 from 112 gifts as of December 13. This is a 40% increase over their 2006 annual fund total of $11,980! These statistics prove the importance of maintaining an active annual giving and communications program through the duration of a capital campaign.]

Most importantly, the current actives have assumed an extremely proactive posture that truly creates a sense of ownership, mission and chapter accountability. Each and every Brother has endorsed and adopted visible and vested roles to ensure that Sigma Nu continues as one of the top fraternities at Georgia Tech.

Every step over the past five years, Affinity Connection has been there to provide guidance and leadership. We have raised over $3 million, and will continue to raise more, THANKS TO AFFINITY.

Future plans include continued re-engagement and re-connection with the approximately 1,400 alums that are part of the Gamma Alpha of Sigma Nu brotherhood. And we will continue to rely on Affinity Connection to optimize our efforts.

I strongly recommend that if you are anticipating a Capital Campaign - or just fine tuning your annual fund efforts – to please call Affinity. You will be glad you did.

Let Us Cheer On Your Campaign...

At Affinity Connection, we like to think of ourselves as the cheerleaders and coaches to our clients’ successful capital fundraising and marketing programs. While our experienced staff provides the coaching, inspiration and resources needed to carry out a capital campaign, the ultimate success lies in the efforts of the alumni volunteers.

According to Sigma Nu’s account manager, Ellen Konkle, the main reason Gamma Alpha’s partnership has been so successful is because of the volunteers who contributed time and effort to the project.

“They have been the heart and soul of this campaign,” said Konkle.

The group of Gamma Alpha volunteers was one who pulled together to make the campaign happen. They were not shy about asking brothers for money, set the standard high by making large contributions themselves, and were diligent about sending personal thank-you emails to new donors and then getting them to help solicit others from their classes.

Specifically, Konkle recognized the efforts of Campaign Chairman Gary Jones.

“This has been a full-time job for Gary,” she said. “He has spent thousands of hours reaching out to brothers, raising morale and money, and working to ensure that every dollar that could come in DID come in.”

“He also praises every volunteer and donor publicly for his efforts,” she added. “He makes people feel great about what their contribution and time spent was utilized for so that they in turn want to go out and do more – and give more.”

To learn more about how Affinity Connection can support your capital campaign, contact Ellen Konkle (ellen@affinityconnection.com).