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Kara Tompkins
Director of Direct Marketing and Participation at Syracuse University
Professional Background
Kara Tompkins is a dedicated and accomplished professional in the field of higher education administration and philanthropic engagement. With a wealth of experience spanning various prestigious institutions, she has developed a robust skill set that emphasizes strategic marketing, fundraising, and community engagement. Currently, Kara serves as the Director of Direct Marketing and Participation at the Office of Philanthropic Engagement at Syracuse University, where she plays a crucial role in enhancing donor relationships and increasing participation through innovative marketing strategies.
In her previous role as the Assistant Director of Direct Marketing and Participation within the Annual Giving Programs at Syracuse University, Kara was instrumental in designing and implementing campaigns that not only raised funds but also cultivated a sense of community among alumni and donors. Her effective communication skills and creativity helped to increase participation rates significantly, making her a key player in the university's philanthropic efforts.
Prior to her tenure at Syracuse University, Kara held the position of Assistant Director of The Cortland Fund at SUNY Cortland, where she honed her abilities in donor engagement and fundraising. Her commitment to enhancing alumni relations and increasing contributions was evident in the successful initiatives she spearheaded during her time there.
Additionally, she has a solid foundation in fundraising operations from her earlier role as Assistant Director of the Clarkson Fund at Clarkson University, which further developed her expertise in alumni engagement and direct appeals.
Education and Achievements
Kara's educational background boasts a rich blend of advanced studies that lay a strong foundation for her career in higher education management. She earned her Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, where she deepened her understanding of public administration and nonprofit organization management. This program equipped her with advanced leadership skills and a thorough comprehension of policy-making processes, critical for her role in philanthropy and engagement.
Before her executive training, she achieved a Master of Arts (MA) in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University, where she focused on enhancing student experiences and institutional effectiveness. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from Clarkson University, where she laid her groundwork in understanding complex social dynamics and their implications in educational settings. Notably, Kara completed her high school education at Fontbonne Academy, which helped shape her early commitment to community and service.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Kara has consistently demonstrated her capability to lead effective marketing campaigns and strengthen alumni relations. Some of her notable achievements include:
- Increasing participation in alumni giving through strategic communication and targeted outreach initiatives.
- Development of innovative marketing materials that resonate with the target audience, leading to higher response rates in fundraising appeals.
- Successful execution of collaborative programs that bridge the gap between current students and alumni, fostering a strong sense of belonging and community.
Her work has not only contributed to the financial support of the institutions she serves but has also created lasting impacts on the engagement and satisfaction of alumni. Kara Tompkins continues to leverage her expertise, passion, and vision to support higher education and foster lasting donor relationships, ensuring that the institutions she represents can thrive for years to come.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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