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St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Increased Event Attendance by 50% with Personalized Messaging

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Case Studies

Overview

Facing the challenge of engaging its growing alumni base, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute turned to technology to modernize communication and improve St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute—the largest private high school in Western New York—has long relied on a robust advancement program to strengthen its ties with more than 11,000 alumni.

In 2023, however, the school faced a challenge: younger alums were increasingly difficult to reach through traditional alumni engagement methods like direct mail and email. To better connect with this evolving alumni demographic and boost fundraising efforts, St. Joe’s adopted Mongoose Text.

The Challenge: Reaching a New Generation of Alumni

As alumni engagement strategies aged, traditional outreach tools lost their effectiveness. Emails were ignored. Direct mail was slow or missed. With key fundraising campaigns and alumni events on the line, St. Joe’s advancement and alumni relations teams needed a faster, more direct method to connect with their alumni network. Their goal was clear: improve participation and financial support through personalized messaging.

The Solution: Real-Time, Personalized Outreach with Mongoose

In early 2023, St. Joe’s implemented Mongoose’s Conversation Intelligence Platform to engage alums through text—delivering personal, real-time messages that stood out and generated measurable results.

“Texting is very instant and easy. People can reply right away, ask for links, and complete donations or sign up for an event in minutes. It’s allowed us to break through the noise and reach our alumni where they are most likely to respond.”
Sarah Stoklosa, Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship

Key Outcomes

Day of Giving Transformation

In 2024, St. Joe’s raised $485,133 from 1,892 donors—up from $361,588 and 1,083 donors in 2023. That’s a 75% increase in donors year-over-year. Real-time texts sparked class competitions, boosted campaign visibility on social media, and energized the school’s engaged alumni community.

50% Increase in Event Attendance

Text reminders—sent from leadership figures like the Vice President of Institutional Advancement—encouraged higher event turnout. One message addressed by name and class year prompted a strong response for an in-person alumni reception in Los Angeles.

Deeper Engagement, Stronger Trust

Alums responded to messages not just about events and giving but also campus resources like bookstore hours and summer camp. These casual interactions strengthened meaningful relationships with the alma mater.

The Mongoose Difference

Authentic Conversations

Mongoose helped move beyond mass announcements and toward thoughtful two-way conversations. Built-in templates supported a student-centered tone that resonated across the alumni network.

Ease of Use

Despite limited staff members, the advancement team found the platform intuitive and user-friendly. It enabled staff to manage alumni outreach and mentorship opportunities more efficiently.

Strategic Guidance

Mongoose’s team helped optimize timing and message delivery, improving campaign metrics during critical moments like the Day of Giving.

Looking Ahead

St. Joe’s plans to deepen Mongoose’s role in its institutional advancement strategy by integrating it with Blackbaud. This will allow the school to automate stewardship messages—like thank-you notes and birthday wishes—and continue building alumni engagement through personalized outreach during upcoming initiatives like Athletic Week of Giving.

Conclusion

Mongoose has transformed St. Joe’s approach to alumni engagement and fundraising. By creating real-time, humanized interactions, the school has increased donations, built stronger ties with current students and alums, and improved its overall advancement outcomes.

“We love Mongoose. It’s made a world of difference in our communication plans and our ability to reach alumni and younger alums. It’s a tool I’d recommend to anyone looking to truly engage their audience.”
Sarah Stoklosa