January 9, 2025

At the Intersection of Higher Education Marketing + Philanthropy

👋 Introduction 👋

Hi Reader,

Welcome to the very first issue of DJG Marketing Insights!

This newsletter has been a work-in-progress in my head for longer than I care to admit (if you need recommendations for podcasts about newsletters, I got you), so I’m thrilled to finally hit “send.” And, incredibly grateful that you’ve signed up to be part of this new community.

Whether you’re a leader, professional, or partner in higher education or the nonprofit world, my goal is simple:

To share insights that make your work a little smarter, easier, and more impactful.

Each week, you can look forward to a mix of:

• Insights from my 20+ years of agency and in-house experience across Branding, Marketing Communications, and Advancement.
• Tips and industry resources to help you stay ahead.
• Tools you didn’t know you needed—but probably do.
• Other useful surprises, here and there.

This is a learning process for me, so expect some trial and error (hopefully more trial than error). I’d love to hear from you along the way—what challenges are you tackling? What topics or type of content would be helpful? Do you have a suggestion for a better font I could be using? 🙂

Seriously, your feedback will help me make this newsletter even better, so don’t be a stranger. Engagement is encouraged!

If you find value here, please consider sharing with a colleague or teammate. It's as easy as forwarding this email or the signup link: djg-marketing.kit.com/newsletter. This doesn't cost a thing and would mean the world to me.

Thank you for being here as we build something meaningful. Here’s to learning, growing, and making an impact in 2025—together!

🙏 With gratitude,

Dan

💡 Featured Insight 💡

Is Your Organization Marketing-Driven or Fundraising-Driven? Here are 5 Key Reasons It Matters.

In higher education and nonprofits, the urgency of fundraising—or enrollment goals—often drives decision-making. While meeting immediate needs is essential, adopting a marketing-driven approach positions organizations for long-term success. Here’s why:

1. Focus on Mission and Audience

A marketing-driven mindset keeps organizations aligned with their mission and deeply connected to their audiences. Rather than simply chasing dollars, it fosters meaningful, lasting relationships with donors, alumni, and other stakeholders.

📊 Mission-driven organizations outperform others by 30-40% in revenue and profitability.

2. Strategic Storytelling

Marketing-driven organizations prioritize cohesive, mission-centered messaging that builds trust and inspires action across campaigns—from annual giving appeals to major gift proposals. Effective marketing also reaches hearts and minds faster, driving engagement at scale.

📊 Emotionally compelling stories can increase giving by up to 56%, and consistent messaging across platforms boosts revenue by 23%.

3. Balancing Priorities

A marketing-driven approach ensures immediate needs don’t overshadow long-term growth initiatives, such as major campaigns or transformative projects. This balance sustains momentum for both present and future goals.

4. Scalable Growth

Fundraising-driven organizations often operate reactively, shaped by the politics or personal agendas of high performers. A marketing-driven institution focuses on scalable strategies, aligning efforts with broader institutional goals to ensure sustainable, long-term success.

📊 Nonprofits investing in marketing see a 126% increase in online revenue growth within a year.

5. Evidence-Based Decisions

Marketing relies on data to test, refine, and allocate resources effectively, ensuring measurable outcomes and strategic alignment.

📊 Organizations using data analytics are 23 times more likely to acquire donors and 6 times more likely to retain them.

BRINGING IT ALL HOME

When marketing drives strategy, it builds the trust, credibility, and connection that amplify fundraising and enrollment efforts. By laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth, marketing ensures that fundraising and enrollment follow naturally and effectively.

Pause and consider: What about your organization? Is it marketing-driven or fundraising-driven? How has that shaped your results?

🔨 Featured Tool 🔨

Gamma - My New Favorite Presentation Maker

Last week, I tried the free version of Gamma.app to make a new business presentation, and honestly, I think I'm hooked. It’s incredibly easy to use, and it made my slides look polished and professional without stressing over design and P.I.T.A. formatting. Granted, I developed the content outline first and imported it into the tool, and was able to keep the number of "cards" (slides) under the max allowed in the free version. But... WOW. Such a better creator experience than using PowerPoint or Google Slides (and I like Google Slides).

Here’s what I loved:

• Interactive Options: You can add embeds, expandable sections, or other elements to make your slides feel really dynamic and engaging.
• Spotlight Feature: This helps you keep your audience focused on exactly what you want while presenting, enhancing your delivery.
• Smart Templates: Formatting is a breeze, which allows you to stay more focused on content and dramatically reduces build time.
• Super Easy to Use: Perfect for situations where you need to assemble a presentation on short notice that still looks impressive. (Shhh...no need to tell anyone how much time it actually took!)
• Shareable: Options for sharing are easy and it provides analytics on items like slide views and average time spent on slide. 📊🤓

I'm leaning toward upgrading to the paid version for my presentation next month at the CASE District II Annual Conference in NYC. And if you’ve got a presentation on the horizon, give Gamma a shot—like many AI tools, it’s free to get started.

What I'm Paying Attention To This Week

🔥 California: The ongoing wildfires are a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly life can change. My thoughts are with everyone affected—wishing safety and strength to all those navigating this crisis.

🌍 Career Moves: Now that we're off and running in January, a lot of change is appearing in my network—some exciting, and some unexpected. It’s a reminder of just how dynamic, and sometimes unpredictable, our fields can be. Whether you’re celebrating a new chapter or navigating uncertainty, I’m here to support. Connect with me on LinkedIn.

🤖 Givzey / Version 2.ai: Their Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) AI technology is making waves, spotlighting the likely rise of more "agents" being created for higher education and philanthropy.

🐢 Bluesky: Remember all the buzz among the higher education marketing community back in November? Growth slowed in December, one month after a big exodus from X.

Where I'm Showing Up

🎙 Podcast: The wait is over—Season 3 of the Education Marketing Leader podcast just dropped today! In this episode, I join host Chris Rapozo to dive into aligning Marketing and Advancement for institutional success.

From my POV, this topic is significantly underrepresented in the totality of higher education marketing dialogue compared to branding or enrollment marketing—and it represents a huge opportunity for most institutions. Don't be surprised to see and hear more a lot more about it throughout 2025!

Catch the conversation onSpotify here (or Apple or YouTube). I’d love to hear your reactions!

🎤 Presentation: I’ll be presenting at the CASE District II Annual Conference in New York City on February 9. If you're heading there too, shoot me a note or be sure to find me. My session will explore how Advancement Marketing & Communications teams can elevate their work to be more strategic functions that better drive meaningful alumni and donor engagement. Huzzah!