UCLA Swim & Dive Partners with DonorElevate to Reignite Donor and Alumni Engagement

The UCLA Swim & Dive program is taking bold steps to re-engage its donors and alumni, ensuring the team has the resources, support, and momentum it needs to thrive in today's ever-changing college athletics landscape. Through a new partnership with DonorElevate, Head Coach Jordan Cordry and the Bruins are modernizing their approach to donor communications and relationship management.

Building a Stronger Donor Connection

College athletics is evolving, and programs need more than competitive athletes to succeed—they need deep donor engagement and strategic fundraising to remain competitive. For UCLA Swim & Dive, this means using DonorElevate to:

• Reconnect with alumni and donors who have been integral to the program's success.
• Strategize communications that keep supporters engaged year-round.
• Provide donors with meaningful updates, insider access, and a stronger connection to the program they love.

Coach Cordry's Vision: The Coach as CEO

Coach Cordry sees today's collegiate head coach as more than just a coach—she's also a leader of communications, fundraising, and outreach. Her approach to UCLA Swim & Dive reflects this modern reality:

Jordan Cordry

Head Coach, UCLA Swimming & Diving

"In today's world of collegiate athletics, head coaches are more than coaches—we're CEOs. Along with coaching, mentoring, and recruiting, we're leading communication, outreach, and fundraising efforts. Protecting and elevating our programs has never been more important."

"That's why I turned to DonorElevate. Its ability to streamline communication with our stakeholders, while housing media and contacts on one easy-to-use platform, was a game-changer. Even better, the DonorElevate team has been incredible—responsive, innovative, and fully committed to helping us succeed."

"At the end of the day, I wanted a way to connect more often and more meaningfully with our amazing fans and boosters. DonorElevate gives me that—and I'm thrilled to add it to my CEO toolkit."

A Platform Built for Modern College Athletics

With DonorElevate, UCLA Swim & Dive is adopting a platform designed to make consistent, meaningful donor engagement simple and scalable. The program will leverage:

• Personalized video updates from Coach Cordry and the team.
• A centralized platform to store and manage contacts, communication history, and media.
• Engagement data that helps staff make informed decisions about cultivation and fundraising strategies.

This forward-thinking approach will help UCLA Swim & Dive secure the resources needed to compete at the highest levels while building a donor community that feels connected, appreciated, and essential to the program's success.

UCLA's approach reflects the broader trends we've identified in donor retention improvements across 2025 and the importance of coaches taking a leadership role in donor engagement.