Almabase recognizes 50 Champions in Alumni Relations & Advancement

Almabase, a donor engagement platform for non-profits, has announced the winners of its second iteration of 50 Champions in Advancement, showcasing the best in the alumni relations and advancement field. The winners were vetted through a rigorous process from June through December 2025, and represent a variety of prestigious educational institutions across the world.

AB50C is Almabase’s second iteration of their bi-annual recognition program for professionals working in alumni relations, fundraising, events, and advancement services. The initiative spotlights the incredible accomplishments of the professionals in this space, and gives each champion a platform for recognition. With the second iteration of the campaign in 2025, Almabase made the campaign global, inviting applications from nominees outside the USA. This year, the campaign received 120+ nominations from 7 countries, representing a diverse pool of nominees across various fields within advancement.

Noteworthy champions from 2025 include: Tim Olivieri (Cornell University), Sharon Parkinson (Vassar College), Mike Gombita (East Stroudsburg University Foundation), Alice Eekman (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Dr Stella May (Jose Rizal University), Kevin Flemming (Prosper Nonprofit Advisors), and Kim D. Rich (Sidwell Friends) among others. The winners were announced in style over a grand livestream hosted by Hollywood actor Michael Bonini, made in partnership with reputed media agency Failure Island (now available to view on-demand).

The 50 Champions were selected by a panel of judges, who are veterans in the field. The panel consisted of Maria Gallo (Keep In Touch Education), Jay Le Roux Dillon (University of California, Berkeley), Shalonda Martin (Pomona College), Jenny Smith (CASE), and Joseph Volin (Illinois Tech).

AB50C continues to grow into a recurring celebration that not only recognizes excellence, but also strengthens community, visibility, and collaboration within the sector. As the company prepares for the next edition, they aim to further expand the program’s reach and impact. Almabase is currently welcoming future partnerships and sponsorships from organizations that share their vision of celebrating the individuals shaping the future of advancement.

Learn more about the campaign, and view all the Champions from 2025 here

Almabase is built for fundraising teams across schools, colleges, universities, and non-profits to increase their donor participation, engagement and manage events seamlessly. Almabase helps you engage your community and grow your donor base through a unified, efficient approach. With Almabase, you can effortlessly connect with your peers/alumni/donors, manage events, and run successful fundraising campaigns—all integrated seamlessly with your existing CRM.

Learn more at www.almabase.com.

Almabase Recognizes 50 Alumni Relations and Advancement Champions of 2025