Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell
Nonprofit Nation is hosted by Julia Campbell, digital marketing and fundraising expert, nonprofit consultant, and author of Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits and How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit in 90 Days.
Julia helps nonprofits build movements, and in her work she teaches nonprofits how to build community, audience and raise influence on social media channels.
On Nonprofit Nation, Julia sits down with nonprofit industry experts and practitioners to get advice on the best ways to build a thriving movement and a vibrant, passionate community around a cause.
Topics include fundraising, storytelling, and marketing of course - but it also dives into mental health issues, leadership strategy, digital wellness, and much more. Julia's guests share practical wisdom, entertaining stories, and real-world tips that will help you strategize, plan, and grow your nonprofit.
You never know exactly what you’re going to learn when you tune into Nonprofit Nation, but you can be assured that it will be worth your valuable time and attention.
Be sure to click the subscribe button on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell
Alumni Engagement & Ethical Storytelling with Cecilia Lee
In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, we’re joined by Cecilia Lee, Alumni Relations Principal at Communities In Schools (CIS), to discuss the powerful role alumni networks can play in driving nonprofit success. CIS—a national organization ensuring students have the resources they need to stay in school—has built a robust alumni engagement strategy that connects participants beyond graduation, turning them into lifelong supporters, advocates, and ambassadors.
Cecilia shares how nonprofits can leverage alumni to increase community outreach, event participation, and donor engagement. She explains how public recognition—through programs like the Distinguished Service Alumni Award—motivates alumni involvement and how CIS’s President and CEO, Rey Saldaña, exemplifies the potential of alumni who become leaders.
Whether you’re a nonprofit marketer, fundraiser, or executive, you’ll learn actionable strategies for building sustainable alumni networks that deepen engagement and drive long-term mission impact.
Key takeaways:
- Alumni aren’t just participants—they’re future leaders and lifelong advocates.
- Public recognition matters. Celebrating alumni can drive engagement and inspire others to stay involved.
- Alumni ambassadors extend your nonprofit’s reach organically, promoting events, recruiting new supporters, and growing awareness.
Challenges are inevitable, but thoughtful engagement strategies can keep alumni connected through different stages of life.
About Cecilia Lee
Cecilia Garcia Lee is an immigrant Latina from Mexico. At the age of 3, her family
moved to Houston, TX where she attended school through post-secondary.
Cecilia attended Houston Baptist University and began her career working at an
elementary school for 2 years. She then transitioned to the non-profit sector, joining the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council in Houston, where she assisted and supported the creation of Girl Scout troops in underserved areas, focusing on predominantly black and brown communities.
Following her impactful work with the Girl Scouts, Cecilia joined Communities In
Schools of Houston (CIS) as a Case Manager at Milby High School. It was here that she discovered her true calling. She later moved to the Development department, where she successfully managed the organization's largest fundraising event for 13 years. During this period, Cecilia started engaging with former CIS students, leading these efforts for over 5 years locally.
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This Episode Sponsored By Neon One:
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Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts