Switchboard
Switchboard provides training, consulting, and constituent-facing technology for educational institution to make strong communities.
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| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Switchboard provides a specialized community engagement platform and accompanying consulting services designed for the education sector and other member-based organizations. The company was founded in 2012 by Mara Zepeda and Sean Lerner, who met on Twitter and subsequently developed the initial platform for their alma mater, Reed College. Their goal was to create a tool that facilitated tangible connections and support within a trusted community network.
Mara Zepeda's background as an investigative economic reporter for outlets like National Public Radio and her degrees from Reed College and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism informed the company's focus on community building and systemic change. This experience, combined with her work co-founding organizations like Zebras Unite, which promotes a more ethical and sustainable approach to business, shaped Switchboard's mission. The platform originated as a passion project by alumni volunteers, aiming to address challenges faced by institutions, such as declining giving rates and the need to retain talent.
The business operates on a dual model, offering both a technology platform and strategic consulting. Its clients include colleges, universities, independent schools, and non-profit organizations. The core product is a software platform that functions as a dedicated network where students and alumni can post "asks" and "offers," such as seeking career advice, sharing job opportunities, finding housing, or connecting for mentorship. This model empowers advancement, alumni relations, and career services departments to foster a culture of philanthropy, scale their services efficiently, and provide measurable results on engagement. For advancement teams, the platform provides data to inform targeted fundraising solicitations. In June 2020, Switchboard merged with its sister company, Hearken, to expand its service offerings across the globe.
Keywords: alumni engagement, career services, higher education technology, community platform, student networking, mentorship software, advancement services, donor intelligence, alumni relations, institutional advancement, non-profit engagement, member communities, professional networking, peer-to-peer support, educational fundraising, volunteer management, edtech, online community, constituent engagement, service design