Alumni Spirit Week

My Role in O’Connell Homecoming & Spirit Week Fundraising

I play a key creative, strategic, and operational role in Homecoming Weekend and Spirit Week fundraising. Over my three years in Advancement, I have helped increase alumni and parent participation, drive higher attendance at Homecoming events, and strengthen giving outcomes through smart, audience-specific incentives and compelling communications.

Creative Direction & Campaign Messaging

I design and write all major Spirit Week and Homecoming email communications — including theme-day announcements, fundraising appeals, reminder emails, and thank-you messages — ensuring a consistent, enthusiastic tone that reflects O’Connell’s culture of pride and tradition.
Examples include:

• “Throwback Thursday, Knights Style” email highlighting alumni engagement and new giving incentives (e.g., O’Connell Alumni Cap)

• Spirit Week recap and family appeal with donation incentive language tailored to parents and alumni audiences

• Homecoming morning announcement emphasizing community, tradition, and donor impact, with clear calls-to-action for Knight Fund support

• Post-event “Thank You” email capturing the momentum of the weekend and reinforcing donor appreciation

Alongside the writing, I create the graphics for these campaigns — banners, email headers, social media assets, and merchandise imagery — many of which are featured in my portfolio as writing and design samples.

Fundraising Strategy & Donor Incentive Development

I helped develop and refine Spirit Week giving incentives that resonate across alumni, parents, and parents of alumni.
This includes:

• Launching new alumni giving challenges, encouraging class-year-based participation.

• Introducing a new parent/parent of alumni incentive, allowing these groups to participate meaningfully in a way tailored to their relationship with the school

• Coordinating the distribution of limited-edition Spirit Week items and integrating them into appeals as high-value motivators.

• Helping shape audience segmentation strategy for alumni, parents, and reunion-year classes.

These adjustments directly contributed to increased alumni participation and higher on-campus excitement, helping build a stronger culture of giving during the lead-up to Homecoming.

Homecoming Communications & Attendance Growth

Through a mix of email, print, and social communications, I support the full Homecoming event cycle — from save-the-date messaging to day-of reminders.
My responsibilities include:

• Writing and sending RSVP emails, reminders, social media posts, and Homecoming weekend updates.

• Coordinating RSVP lists and communications with staff

• Supporting creative assets for Homecoming postcards, newsletters, and social media.

• Working as Day of Event support

Over my tenure, these efforts have helped increase Homecoming attendance year over year, particularly among alumni who respond strongly to O’Connell’s nostalgic, community-centered messaging.

Cross-Team Coordination & Event Support

I collaborate closely with Advancement staff on communication schedules, printing timelines, volunteer needs, and donor engagement strategies. During Spirit Week and Homecoming, I assist with:

• On-campus engagement

• Coordinating giveaways and merchandise

• Real-time messaging updates

• Photo and media coordination

• Ensuring consistent branding and donor messaging across all platforms

Portfolio Samples Included:

• Email writing samples from Spirit Week and Homecoming campaigns

• Branded graphics designed for both initiatives

• Screenshots of incentive promotions and digital assets

• Examples of segmented messaging for alumni, parents, and parents of alumni