The Full Story:
As Indiana University of Pennsylvania navigated staffing reductions and institutional change, the advancement team began rethinking how they engaged faculty, staff, and donors. Traditional phone-based outreach and scripted thank you videos had become less effective and less engaging for students.
Students who were producing stewardship videos wanted something more creative and meaningful. In response, the team shifted to a new approach using ThankView, inviting students to lead the storytelling process.
Instead of repeating scripted messages, students developed their own concepts, assigned roles, and created an Office-inspired campaign that leaned heavily into creativity and improvisation. The result was a series of videos that felt authentic, personal, and distinctly student-led.
The campaign helped faculty and staff feel more seen and appreciated, especially those in roles that often go unnoticed. It also increased engagement, strengthened internal giving, and gave students a more rewarding and hands-on creative experience.
Ultimately, Indiana University of Pennsylvania transformed stewardship into a more creative, authentic, and student-powered experience that strengthened connection across campus.
Because the person behind the profile, whether a longtime donor or a faculty member, deserves to feel seen.
