In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, we continue our July series on sponsorships, partnerships, and non-dues revenue with a fresh perspective from the higher education space. Host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Leah Lang, Senior Director of Partnerships and Corporate Engagement at EDUCAUSE, to explore how the organization moved beyond transactional sponsorships and built a high-impact partnership model that aligns with their mission—and delivers real value to both members and industry.
🎧 Whether you’re building a sponsor program from scratch or looking to deepen your existing relationships, this episode offers powerful takeaways on strategy, structure, and sustained success.
Key Highlights:
From A La Carte to All In – Why EDUCAUSE moved away from one-off offerings and built bundled, relationship-based partnerships—and how that shift improved satisfaction for both sides.
Let the Data Guide You – How EDUCAUSE used stakeholder feedback and internal analysis to reshape their program—and how your association can do the same.
The Power of Fit – Why not every sponsor becomes a partner—and how EDUCAUSE curates its partner roster to ensure community alignment and long-term value.
Mission at the Core – How Leah’s member-first mindset ensures industry engagement supports the broader mission of advancing higher ed through technology.
Advice for Associations – From creative bundling to thoughtful onboarding, Leah shares tactical advice for associations looking to reimagine their approach to non-dues revenue.
What’s Next – Learn how EDUCAUSE’s Annual Partner Summit is evolving into a year-round innovation program—and why convening diverse stakeholders is a powerful way to co-create solutions.
🎧 Tune in for a candid, practical conversation on how thoughtful strategy and member-first thinking can turn sponsor relationships into something deeper—and far more impactful.
Stay Connected:
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Coming Soon: We’ll wrap up our July series with one more real-world example of how associations are rethinking value, impact, and what partnership really means. Stay tuned!
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