Written by Alex Goyri
From July 21–25, Cuseum had the opportunity to participate in the CAMMP 2025 Conference, a national gathering of alumni professionals focused on membership management, marketing strategies, and engagement techniques. We joined dozens of institutions, many of whom we’ve collaborated with in the past, to share ideas, explore challenges, and look ahead at what’s next for alumni engagement.
The event was a solid reminder that while the landscape keeps changing, one thing stays the same: alumni teams are looking for solutions that are flexible and easy to use, in order to retain and attract members.
The Focus of the Conversation
Most of the institutions we met were tackling asking the same questions:
How can we make the membership experience feel more modern and personal?
How can we do more with fewer manual processes?
How do we meet alumni where they are, especially on mobile?
Shifting Priorities in Alumni Engagement
A noticeable number of institutions openly shared that over 50% of their alumni engagement now happens through mobile devices. That stat popped up multiple times, and aligned closely with what we’ve been hearing across the board.
Another recurring theme was the need for simple, automated workflows, especially for teams working with limited resources. Interest in tools that reduce manual effort (like automated renewals and digital distribution) came up frequently.
And it wasn’t just talk. A majority of institutions are actively exploring new ways to modernize how they manage and deliver member benefits.
What Stood Out
The shift to mobile based platforms confirms what we’ve seen in our own data: alumni want quick access, mobile delivery, and benefits that feel personal and easy to use.
Cuseum’s digital solutions fit that need well, and it showed. Attendees responded positively to:
The clean design and simple user experience
The ability to pair digital and print formats
Features like automated messaging and easy benefit delivery
And more broadly, the idea of reducing internal friction and admin time
Making Connections
The booth was busy all week. We had the chance to talk with almost every attendee.
It was also great to connect with some familiar faces from institutions already working with us, including USC, NYU, and the University of South Carolina.
We also had a chance to speak with some members of the CAMMP board and other influential voices in the space, who gave us insight into how alumni institutions across different types of institutions.
What Made CAMMP Valuable
CAMMP is unique in that most attendees are working directly in alumni engagement roles and are actively thinking about what’s next. It’s not a massive trade show, it’s closer to a working group of peers figuring things out together. That’s what made the experience worthwhile.
We had the chance to exchange perspectives with people newly stepping into alumni roles, as well as experienced professionals on the CAMMP board
This year’s CAMMP Conference reminded us once again that alumni institutions are ready for change, if not already embracing it fully.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat, share insights, or connect a colleague with us. We’re excited to keep those conversations going and continue building digital tools that help alumni associations stay connected, relevant, and ready for the future.