Universities and colleges often spend decades shaping the lives of their students. But after graduation, many of those student relationships fade. Staying connected to alumni matters — not just for tradition or nostalgia — but because alumni support drives fundraising, mentorship programs, event attendance, and institutional reputation. This is where personalized video becomes a powerful tool.

In this post, we’ll look at practical, creative, and data-backed ways for admissions teams, alumni relations offices, and university marketers to use video to strengthen alumni relationships and reignite school pride.

Table of Contents

• Why Video Works for Alumni Engagement
• 5 Strategic Ways to Use Video in Alumni Outreach
• Personalization Makes the Difference
• How to Implement a Video Strategy on Campus
• The Impact of Video on University Giving
• Conclusion + Next Steps

Why Video Works for Alumni Engagement

Video taps into one thing that most email newsletters, postcards, and mass mailings can’t deliver: human connection. Seeing a familiar face, hearing the school song, or watching highlights from a recent campus event — it triggers emotion and memories.

According to Wyzowl’s Video Marketing Survey, 73% of people say they’d rather learn about something by watching a video. That same principle applies when you’re trying to reach former students.

Alumni are busy. Many ignore long email updates or leaflets. A 30-second video message from the dean, a shoutout from a professor, or a montage of recent campus upgrades can draw them back in — emotionally and financially.

5 Strategic Ways to Use Video in Alumni Outreach

1. Personalized Thank You Videos for Donors

One of the fastest ways to build donor loyalty is to acknowledge gifts with authenticity. Donors who receive a short video thanking them personally for their contribution are more likely to give again — and at higher amounts. For example, using platforms like Sendspark, your development team can send branded thank-you messages with dynamic fields like the donor’s name, department, or donation amount.

2. Event Invitations That Feel Personal

Whether you’re inviting alumni to a virtual networking day or a 25-year reunion on campus, video invitations drive higher click-through and RSVP rates compared to static email. Add enthusiasm — and a human touch — by putting a familiar face (like a faculty member or student ambassador) on camera. It’s easy to scale personalized videos across different regions and graduation years.

3. Alumni Spotlights and Success Stories

Create videos that highlight what your alumni have achieved. These "alumni success" reels can inspire recent grads and prospective donors while also giving featured alumni a proud moment to share. Combine video clips, quotes, and background music for a polished production, or keep it real with authentic webcam testimonials.

4. Giving Day Campaigns with Emotional Video Stories

On your annual Giving Day, video can do more than ask for money — it can remind alumni why they loved your institution in the first place. For example, the University of Washington saw record-breaking contributions during their giving campaign when they shared short-form student stories alongside donation calls-to-action.

5. Nostalgic Campus Tours

Invite alumni back to “walk” through campus with a modern video tour. Incorporate drone footage, interviews with professors, or new buildings — all packed into 2–3 minute videos. It reminds your alumni of how much growth is happening and why their support matters.

Personalization Makes the Difference

Video is already engaging. But personalized video? That feels like a conversation.

Sendspark makes it frictionless to customize videos with the viewer’s first name, class year, donation amount, or past event attendance. Even better — you can record once and personalize at scale using automated workflows.

This wasn’t easy before. Personalizing messages used to require hours of manual editing or custom filming. But now, you can choose dynamic variables in a script and insert them automatically across tens, hundreds, or thousands of contacts.

Want even more polish? Use AI video introductions to generate branded beginnings for every alumni campaign, making each message sound tailor-made.

How to Implement a Video Strategy on Campus

Getting started doesn’t require a film degree or a massive studio. Here’s what schools need:

• Webcams or phone cameras: Keep production authentic and human. Alumni relate better to real people than over-produced promos.
• Video messaging platform: Sendspark lets teams record, brand, and send videos easily — even integrate with CRMs and email tools.
• Scripting support: Use built-in script and teleprompter tools to help any team member record with confidence.
• Campaign plan: Match videos to your alumni calendar. Target dormant donor segments with video thank-yous. Follow up with class reunions, new initiatives, or scholarships.

And for internal training, look to this guide on how to record a great video of yourself — so anyone from interns to department heads can confidently represent the institution.

The Impact of Video on University Giving

Alumni engagement leads to donations, period. According to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), engaged alumni are 4x more likely to donate — and 5x more likely to donate over multiple years.

Video helps seal this connection. Here’s how some universities have reported video success:

• 45% more opens when including "video" in the subject line of alumni emails.
• 72% faster responses on Giving Day emails with personalized videos.
• 20–50% increase in recurring donations with regular video touchpoints post-graduation.

Video isn’t just another trend — it’s reshaping how schools sustain alumni relationships and long-term support.

Conclusion + Next Steps

Higher education marketing requires more than batch emails and glossy magazines. Relationships are built by conversations. Personal video opens the door to those conversations — with warmth, emotion, and scale.

Whether it's a simple thank-you, an invite to a scholarship gala, or a nostalgic rush of campus memories, investing in video pays off.

Teams don’t need big budgets or exhausting editing workflows. With a platform like Sendspark, universities can send hundreds of unique alumni videos in minutes — and automate future alumni journeys using smart workflows.

Want help setting up your alumni video campaign? Get started with Sendspark here.

FAQs

1. Do we need expensive equipment to start using video for alumni engagement?
   No. A webcam or smartphone is more than enough. In fact, authentic, low-production videos often perform better than over-produced ones — they feel more personal and genuine.
   
   
2. How do we personalize videos without recording one by one?
   Platforms like Sendspark let you record a single base video and automatically personalize it at scale using dynamic fields (e.g., first name, class year, donation amount). This saves time while still delivering a customized experience.
   
   
3. Can video actually improve alumni giving?
   Yes. Universities using personalized video have seen:

• Up to 72% faster Giving Day responses
  
  
• A 20–50% increase in recurring donations
  
  
• More than 40% higher email open rates when “video” is in the subject line

4. What kinds of videos should we create first?
   
   Start with:

• Personalized thank-you messages to donors
  
  
• Video invites to upcoming alumni events
  
  
• Short success stories from notable alumni
  
  
• Nostalgic campus walk-throughs
  
  

5. Can we send videos through our existing email or CRM systems?
   Yes. Sendspark integrates with most CRMs and email marketing tools, so your alumni office can easily embed video links or thumbnails that play seamlessly across devices.
   
   
6. Is it possible to track who watched our videos?
   Definitely. You can track views, clicks, and engagement metrics to see who’s interacting with your content — and follow up accordingly.
   
   
7. What if our team isn’t comfortable being on camera?
   No problem. Use AI-powered video introductions, screen recordings, or voiceovers paired with imagery. Plus, Sendspark includes built-in teleprompters to help staff stay confident on camera.
   
   
8. Can this help us reconnect with dormant or disengaged alumni?
   Yes — personalized videos reintroduce warmth and familiarity. Even a quick “we miss you” video from a former professor can spark renewed connection and interest.
   
   
9. How often should we use video in our alumni campaigns?
   Incorporate video at key touchpoints: post-donation, pre-event, milestone anniversaries, and Giving Day campaigns. Even quarterly video newsletters can significantly boost engagement.
   
   
10. How do we get started with a tool like Sendspark?
    You can sign up for a free account to start experimenting or get in touch with our team to help you build a full alumni video engagement strategy.