When Anthology filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025, thousands of higher education institutions found themselves facing critical decisions about their student engagement, enrollment, and advancement technology. If you're a college or university leader using Anthology's Engagement suite—including Reach, Raise, Encompass, Engage, or related products—this comprehensive guide will help you understand what's happening, evaluate your options, and plan a strategic path forward.

What Happened to Anthology? Understanding the 2025 Bankruptcy Filing

On September 29-30, 2025, Anthology Inc.—the education technology company behind Blackboard and numerous campus systems—filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The company listed both assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion in its petition.

The Financial Crisis Behind the Bankruptcy

The numbers tell a stark story: Anthology's debt interest payments alone consumed 41% of total revenue, making it mathematically impossible for the company to meet its financial obligations while maintaining operations and investing in product innovation. Between 2023 and 2025, Anthology's revenue fell by $80 million, compounding the debt crisis.

This collapse reflects a broader trend in the private equity-backed software industry. Software companies—long favored by private equity for their reliable cash flows—have been struggling under the weight of debt used to fund their dealmaking, especially as higher interest rates drove up borrowing costs and the transition to artificial intelligence undermined many legacy tech firms' business models.

The Restructuring Strategy: Breaking Up Anthology

Backed by a group of investors led by affiliates of Oaktree Capital Management and Nexus Capital Management, Anthology's restructuring plan centers on refocusing around its core Teaching & Learning business (Blackboard LMS, Ally accessibility tool, Illuminate, and Institutional Effectiveness) while selling off other divisions to new owners. The comprehensive transaction is expected to be completed by early 2026.

As part of the restructuring, the Teaching & Learning business will be recapitalized on a debt-free basis with at least $50 million in new cash, essentially eliminating the crushing debt burden that led to bankruptcy.

What this means for higher education: Anthology as you know it will cease to exist as a unified company. Instead, it will be split into three separate entities, each owned and operated independently.

Which Anthology Products Are Being Sold and to Whom?

Understanding which products are going where is critical for planning your institution's technology roadmap. Here's the complete breakdown:

What's Staying with Anthology (The "New Blackboard")

The reorganized Anthology will focus exclusively on Teaching & Learning products, including:

• Blackboard Learn (LMS)
• Blackboard Ally (accessibility)
• Blackboard Illuminate (assessment and analytics)
• Institutional Effectiveness solutions

Upon emergence from bankruptcy, this entity will likely drop the "Anthology" name and operate simply as Blackboard again, since the Anthology and CampusNexus brands are being sold to the buyers, with only transitional rights for 12 months.

What's Being Sold to Ellucian

Ellucian Company LLC has agreed to serve as the "stalking horse" (baseline) bidder for the Enterprise Operations business, which includes:

• Anthology Student (SIS - Student Information System)
• Anthology Finance & HCM (Human Capital Management)
• Student Verification services
• Enterprise Ops Legacy systems

Ellucian's bid for this segment is $70 million. If you're using Anthology's SIS or financial systems, you'll likely become an Ellucian customer if this sale proceeds.

What's Being Sold to Encoura

This is the critical section for readers of this guide. Encoura, LLC (an enrollment analytics and research company) has agreed to serve as the stalking horse bidder for the Lifecycle Engagement and Student Success businesses, which include:

• Anthology Reach (CRM for enrollment and student success)
• Anthology Raise (advancement CRM)
• Anthology Encompass (alumni engagement and fundraising platform)
• Anthology Engage (student engagement and co-curricular platform)
• Anthology Advance (unified advancement suite)
• Anthology Beacon and other Student Success services

Encoura's bid is $50 million, and they've agreed to offer employment to at least 70% of the current employees in these divisions. This means up to 30% of the staff who know these products could be leaving, raising serious questions about support quality and product expertise going forward.

Why this matters: If you're using any of these Engagement suite products, you'll have a new vendor—Encoura—by early 2026, assuming no higher bids emerge and the court approves the sale.

What's the Timeline for Anthology's Restructuring?

Anthology intends to move expeditiously through the Chapter 11 process over the next 3-6 months. The company has filed "First-Day Motions" to ensure seamless transition into bankruptcy without disruption to ordinary course operations.

Key Dates and Milestones

Based on court filings and public statements, here's what to expect:

• Late September 2025: Chapter 11 filing completed
• October 2025: Operations continue "business as usual" under bankruptcy protection
• Mid-November 2025: Deadline for competing bids on the assets being sold
• Late November 2025: Auctions (if competing bids emerge)
• December 2025: Target date for finalizing asset sales
• Early 2026 (Q1): Expected completion of the entire restructuring, with Anthology emerging as a debt-free Blackboard-focused entity

To support operations during this period, Anthology has secured $50 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to cover payroll, vendor payments, and day-to-day operations.

What this aggressive timeline means for you: You have a narrow window (essentially Q4 2025 through Q1 2026) to make critical decisions about your technology stack. Waiting too long could leave you scrambling to react to changes imposed by new owners rather than proactively choosing your path.

How Will Anthology's Bankruptcy Impact My Institution?

During the bankruptcy proceedings, Anthology assures customers that operations will continue "business as usual" with no disruption to services. However, "business as usual" during a bankruptcy is not the same as business as usual under normal circumstances.

Immediate Impacts (Now Through Q1 2026)

Operational Continuity: The company has court approval to access financing and maintain operations, so your systems should continue functioning. Critical services like hosting, basic support, and login authentication will remain operational.

Feature Freeze: Product development typically slows or stops during bankruptcy proceedings. Any planned upgrades, feature releases, or innovation initiatives are likely on hold. Based on industry data from On EdTech, Anthology currently serves roughly 3,000 educational institutions, and all of them are experiencing this development pause.

Support Quality Concerns: Even though support teams remain in place, the uncertainty and stress of bankruptcy can affect morale and responsiveness. Support staff may be distracted by their own job security concerns or already looking for new employment.

Post-Sale Impacts (2026 and Beyond)

New Ownership, New Strategy: Once Encoura takes ownership of the Engagement products (assuming the sale proceeds), they will set the strategic direction. Encoura is primarily known for enrollment analytics and research services—not software development. This raises questions about their commitment to evolving these platforms versus simply maintaining them to retain the customer base.

Integration Risks: One of Anthology's biggest weaknesses was limited cross-selling across its product portfolio. Many institutions used only a single Anthology product rather than multiple integrated solutions. With products now split across three owners (Blackboard, Ellucian, Encoura), the integrations you rely on today may degrade over time. For example:

• If you integrate Anthology Reach CRM with Anthology Student SIS, one will be owned by Encoura and one by Ellucian
• Maintaining that integration will require coordination between competitors
• Neither company has a strong incentive to prioritize these connections

Talent Loss: With Encoura only committed to hiring 70% of current employees, up to 30% of product experts, support specialists, and developers could be laid off or leave voluntarily. This brain drain could severely impact:

• Quality of customer support (longer wait times, less knowledgeable responses)
• Bug fixes and maintenance
• Institutional knowledge about product configurations and best practices

Contract and Pricing Changes: When ownership changes, contracts typically need to be renegotiated. You may face:

• Price increases to fund the transition
• Changes in service level agreements (SLAs)
• New terms that are less favorable than your current agreement
• Pressure to commit to multi-year contracts when you may prefer flexibility

What Are Anthology's Engagement Products and What Do They Do?

Before diving into alternatives, it's important to understand exactly what Anthology's Engagement suite offers and why these products matter to your institution. These tools span the entire student and alumni lifecycle.

Anthology Reach: CRM for Enrollment and Student Success

What it is: Anthology Reach is a higher-education Customer Relationship Management system built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, designed to improve student recruitment, streamline admissions processes, coordinate retention efforts, and support advancement outreach.

Key capabilities:

• Managing prospective student communications (inquiry tracking, application workflows, email campaigns)
• Student success features (early alerts, at-risk student identification, advising coordination)
• Integration with SIS and LMS systems
• Reporting on enrollment funnels and recruitment metrics

Who uses it: Admissions offices, enrollment management teams, academic advising centers, and retention coordinators.

The value proposition: Reach provides a unified view of each student from initial interest through enrollment and beyond, helping improve conversion rates in the enrollment funnel and identify students who need intervention to stay on track.

Anthology Raise: Advancement CRM for Fundraising

What it is: Anthology Raise is a next-generation advancement and fundraising CRM built specifically for higher education on the Microsoft Dynamics platform, with added features tailored for development offices.

Key capabilities:

• Donor and alumni relationship management
• Gift officer portfolio and task management
• Prospect pipeline tracking and solicitation coordination
• Gift processing and pledge tracking
• Advanced analytics and reporting on fundraising performance

Who uses it: Development offices, gift officers, advancement services teams, and university advancement leadership.

The value proposition: Raise helps institutions improve donor engagement, create effective fundraising campaigns, enhance alumni outreach, streamline gift processing, and provide data-driven insights into advancement efforts. Major institutions like the University of Washington have deployed Raise to manage relationships with more than 2 million alumni and supporters.

Anthology Encompass: Alumni Engagement and Fundraising Platform

What it is: Formerly known as iModules, Encompass is an integrated platform for alumni relations, digital fundraising, and event management that provides the outward-facing tools complementing Raise's back-end CRM.

Key capabilities:

• Alumni community portals and microsites
• Online giving campaigns and donation forms
• Event management (registrations, invitations, attendance tracking)
• Email marketing to alumni
• Alumni directories and networking tools

Who uses it: Alumni relations offices, annual giving teams, event coordinators, and communications staff.

The value proposition: Encompass helps institutions "build and sustain lifelong relationships with alumni and supporters" through a combination of fundraising, communication, and community features, consolidating disparate tools into one platform.

Anthology Engage: Student Engagement and Co-Curricular Platform

What it is: Anthology Engage (originating from Campus Labs) is a campus community platform aimed at driving student involvement outside the classroom, empowering institutions to foster a dynamic campus community through robust co-curricular experiences managed within a single platform.

Key capabilities:

• Student organization management (club rosters, elections, budgets)
• Campus event management and promotion
• Co-curricular transcript and involvement tracking
• Service learning and volunteer coordination
• Engagement analytics and reporting

Who uses it: Student affairs offices, student activities coordinators, and campus life professionals.

The value proposition: Engage helps students connect with opportunities and helps administrators analyze involvement data to improve programming. Research consistently links student engagement to higher retention and satisfaction.

Anthology Advance: Unified Advancement Suite

What it is: Anthology Advance represents the combined advancement solution of Raise + Encompass (and potentially other advancement tools), offering a unified experience for advancement teams from the CRM side to the alumni-facing side.

Note: Anthology Advance is part of the planned sale to Encoura, so its future development trajectory is uncertain under new ownership.

Anthology Beacon and Student Success Services

What it is: Anthology Beacon is a student success platform using predictive analytics to identify at-risk students and coordinate interventions, along with consulting services and tools for retention strategy.

Key capabilities:

• Predictive risk modeling
• Early alert systems
• Intervention tracking and coordination
• Analytics on factors contributing to student attrition

The value proposition: By leveraging data to inform advisors when students are struggling (low LMS activity, poor grades, etc.), institutions can make proactive outreach to improve retention.

What Are the Real Risks of Staying with Anthology's Engagement Suite?

While Anthology assures customers of continuity, higher education leaders need to honestly assess the risks of remaining on these platforms during and after the transition. Here are the critical concerns:

1. Product Development Stagnation

The risk: During bankruptcy and ownership transfers, product development typically slows or stops entirely. Anthology's focus is on selling these businesses, not investing in new features.

Real-world impact:

• No new features for 12-18 months minimum (through bankruptcy and transition to new ownership)
• Falling behind competitors who are actively innovating, especially in AI-driven personalization and automation
• Missing opportunities to leverage emerging technologies that could improve enrollment, engagement, and fundraising outcomes

Example scenario: While your institution is stuck with a feature-frozen CRM, peer institutions using modern platforms are deploying AI chatbots that answer student questions 24/7, automated personalization that improves email engagement by 30%, and predictive analytics that identify likely donors before your team can even segment them manually.

2. Support Quality Degradation

The risk: Encoura has committed to hiring only 70% of current Engagement suite employees, meaning up to 30% of product experts could be laid off or leave.

Real-world impact:

• Longer wait times for support tickets
• Less knowledgeable responses from new support staff who don't have deep product expertise
• Loss of institutional knowledge about complex configurations and workarounds
• Reduced proactive support and best practice guidance

Example scenario: You discover a critical bug during recruitment season that's preventing application submissions. In the past, you could call your dedicated support rep who knew your configuration. Now, you're in a queue, talking to someone new who needs days to escalate and research the issue. Meanwhile, you're losing applicants.

3. Integration Breakdown

The risk: With Anthology's products split across three different owners (Blackboard, Ellucian, Encoura), existing integrations may not be maintained with the same rigor.

Real-world impact:

• Data sync failures between systems (e.g., CRM not receiving updated enrollment status from SIS)
• Single sign-on breaking as authentication systems change
• API changes that aren't coordinated across vendors
• Your IT team stuck maintaining integrations that vendors won't prioritize

Example scenario: You've relied on seamless data flow between your Anthology Student SIS (going to Ellucian) and Anthology Reach CRM (going to Encoura). After the sale, Ellucian updates their API. Encoura doesn't update the connector for 6 months. Your admissions team is working with stale data and manually checking SIS to see if students have enrolled.

4. Strategic Uncertainty Under New Ownership

The risk: Encoura's core business is enrollment research and analytics, not CRM software development. Their strategic priorities may not align with product evolution.

Real-world impact:

• Reduced R&D investment in these products
• Potential product sunset or forced migration to different platforms
• Shift in product vision that doesn't match your institution's needs
• Acquisition by yet another company down the road, creating more uncertainty

Example scenario: Encoura decides the Reach CRM requires too much development investment. They maintain it minimally for current customers but market their other enrollment services instead. Three years from now, they announce Reach is being sunset, giving you 18 months to find and migrate to a new solution—on their timeline, not yours.

5. Contract Renegotiation Challenges

The risk: When ownership changes, contracts typically need to be renegotiated, potentially on less favorable terms.

Real-world impact:

• Price increases to fund transition costs
• Reduced service levels or features moved to "premium" tiers
• Pressure for long-term commitments when you want flexibility
• Loss of favorable legacy pricing you negotiated years ago

Example scenario: Your current Anthology contract has three years remaining at a favorable rate you negotiated. Encoura sends a notice that they're not honoring old contracts beyond 12 months and offers you a renewal at 40% higher cost with reduced SLA guarantees.

6. Shrinking User Community and Ecosystem

The risk: As uncertainty spreads, some institutions will proactively migrate away. If a critical mass leaves, the remaining customer base shrinks.

Real-world impact:

• Fewer peers to share best practices with at user conferences
• Less marketplace influence to drive product improvements
• Reduced ecosystem of third-party integrations and consultants
• Being stuck on a platform perceived as "legacy" or "sunset"

Example scenario: Over the next two years, 40% of Anthology Reach customers migrate to competitors. User conferences shrink. The vendor stops investing in major improvements because the ROI isn't there for a smaller base. You're left on an island with a declining product.

7. Opportunity Cost of Staying

The risk: Every month you remain on Anthology's uncertain platform is a month you're not benefiting from modern alternatives.

Real-world impact:

• Missing enrollment targets because your CRM lacks AI-powered personalization
• Leaving fundraising dollars on the table because your advancement tools don't enable sophisticated donor journeys
• Losing competitive advantage as peer institutions adopt better technology
• Staff frustration and turnover from using inferior tools

Example scenario: A competing institution switches to Element451 and implements AI agents that handle routine inquiries 24/7, personalize every communication at scale, and free up counselors to focus on high-value interactions. They see a 15% improvement in yield while your team is still manually managing email campaigns in a stagnant system.

How Does Element451 Compare to Anthology Reach for Enrollment Management?

If you're evaluating alternatives to Anthology Reach, Element451 represents a modern, AI-first approach to enrollment CRM that addresses the limitations of legacy systems. Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Platform Architecture and Ease of Use

Anthology Reach:

• Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, which provides a robust but complex CRM foundation
• Requires significant configuration and often third-party consulting to adapt to higher ed needs
• Steep learning curve for end users
• Updates tied to Microsoft's release cycle, not higher ed's specific needs

Element451:

• Purpose-built higher ed CRM with all core features pre-configured and cloud-native architecture designed for quick deployment
• Modern, intuitive interface that requires minimal training for staff
• Institutions can go live in weeks or even days instead of months, with minimal IT overhead
• Regular updates driven directly by higher ed customer feedback

Winner: Element451 - The purpose-built approach means faster implementation, easier adoption, and features that actually match how enrollment teams work.

Learn more: Element451 Higher Education CRM

AI-Powered Automation and Intelligent Workflows

This is where the differences become stark and have the most impact on day-to-day operations.

Anthology Reach:

• Basic automation available (workflow rules, scheduled emails, reminders)
• Staff must manually design and configure all automation
• No embedded AI assistants or autonomous agents
• Primarily a system of record that staff actively manage

Element451:

• Revolutionary Bolt Agents - AI-powered digital teammates that autonomously handle tasks under human oversight, including drafting and sending personalized emails, answering routine inquiries 24/7 via chatbot, flagging at-risk applicants, and triggering workflows automatically
• AI agents can read applications, verify information, score applicants, and support decision-making processes
• Institutions using Bolt Agents report saving approximately 160,000 minutes of staff time
• Proactive rather than reactive - AI identifies opportunities and risks without staff prompting

Real-world example: With BlazeBot, institutions have seen a 24% decrease in call volume and a 10% increase in enrollment because AI handles routine questions instantly while staff focus on complex, high-value interactions.

Winner: Element451 - This isn't even close. Element451's AI agents fundamentally change how enrollment teams work, while Reach requires manual effort for nearly everything.

Learn more: Bolt AI Agents for Admissions

Multi-Channel Student Engagement

Anthology Reach:

• Strong email capabilities and web-based applicant portal
• SMS texting requires third-party integration (not native)
• No built-in chatbot or conversational AI
• Multi-channel campaigns possible but require stitching together separate tools

Element451:

• Native multi-channel engagement: email, two-way SMS texting, web chat, AI voice bots, and personalized microsites—all in one platform
• Campaigns can coordinate across channels automatically, with AI determining the best channel for each student
• Dynamic content that personalizes based on student profile, behavior, and engagement history
• AI-powered chatbots provide instant, accurate answers 24/7/365, trained in minutes on your institution's specific information

Example: A prospective student visits your website at 11 PM on Saturday (outside business hours). Element451's AI chatbot answers their questions about financial aid, application deadlines, and program requirements in real-time. It then automatically sends a personalized follow-up text message Monday morning and adds relevant tasks to the assigned counselor's queue. With Reach, that student would wait until Monday to reach anyone, potentially losing interest or choosing a competitor.

Winner: Element451 - True omnichannel engagement beats Reach's email-focused approach.

Learn more: Student Engagement Platform

Analytics, Insights, and Predictive Capabilities

Anthology Reach:

• Dashboard reporting on applications, funnel metrics, and communication stats
• Leverages Dynamics CRM reporting tools and Power BI
• Some predictive scoring if configured
• Analytics are retrospective (reporting what happened)

Element451:

• Real-time dashboards showing every student's unique pathway from first click to cap toss
• Bolt Insights - AI-driven analytics that surface actionable intelligence (which outreach yields best conversions, which applicants are likely to enroll, who might be at risk of summer melt)
• Predictive capabilities built in, not bolted on
• Analytics are prescriptive (AI recommends what to do next)

Winner: Element451 - Modern, AI-powered insights vs. traditional reporting.

Learn more: Advanced Analytics with Element451

Integration Capabilities

Anthology Reach:

• Historically integrated well within Anthology's ecosystem (SIS, LMS)
• APIs available for third-party integrations but may require custom development
• Post-bankruptcy, integration support for non-Anthology systems is uncertain

Element451:

• Built on API-first architecture with pre-built connectors for common higher ed systems
• Direct integration support for SIS systems (Banner, Colleague, PeopleSoft, Jenzabar, etc.)
• Seamless integration with Common App, test score providers, LMS platforms, and payment systems
• Uses modern middleware (Ethos Integration Hub and others) for enterprise-grade data flow
• Professional implementation support ensures smooth integration with your existing tech stack

Winner: Tie - Both offer solid integration, but Element451's open architecture and dedicated integration support may have an edge post-Anthology breakup.

Learn more: Element451 Integrations

Pricing and Implementation Timeline

Anthology Reach:

• Pricing not publicly available; typically customized per institution
• Implementation often takes 6-12 months or more
• Requires significant IT resources and often external consultants
• Ongoing maintenance and upgrade costs can be substantial

Element451:

• Transparent pricing structure based on institution size and needs
• Straightforward pricing includes customer support, fast implementation, and advanced analytics
• Implementation typically 3-4 months from contract to full go-live, with some institutions going live in weeks for simpler deployments
• Comprehensive training and ongoing support included

Winner: Element451 - Faster, more predictable, more transparent.

Case Study Evidence

Fayetteville Technical Community College successfully increased enrollment by improving communication and simplifying workflows with Element451, demonstrating real-world results from institutions that have made the switch from legacy systems.

Bottom Line for Enrollment Leaders: Element451 offers a more modern, AI-enabled, and user-friendly approach compared to Anthology Reach. It emphasizes letting the system do the heavy lifting through automation and integrated channels, whereas Reach is a capable but manual tool built on older CRM architecture. If you're an admissions or enrollment leader worried about Reach's future under Encoura, Element451 can not only replace that functionality but potentially improve efficiency and student engagement through its innovative features.

Next Steps: Schedule a personalized demo to see Element451's enrollment capabilities

What's the Alternative to Anthology Raise and Encompass for Advancement?

Anthology's advancement solutions (Raise + Encompass, marketed together as "Advance") face the same uncertainty as the enrollment products. Let's examine how Element451's advancement capabilities compare.

Understanding the Anthology Advancement Ecosystem

Anthology's approach to advancement used two integrated products:

• Raise - Back-end CRM for donor management, gift officer workflows, and fundraising analytics
• Encompass - Front-end platform for alumni engagement, online giving, events, and communications

Together, they provided comprehensive advancement functionality, but required working across two interfaces and managing that integration.

Element451's Unified Advancement Solution

Element451 provides advancement and alumni engagement capabilities within the same unified platform used for enrollment, eliminating the need for separate systems and interfaces.

Core Functionality Comparison

Anthology Raise + Encompass:

• Raise: Comprehensive gift officer portfolio management, prospect tracking, gift processing, campaign management
• Encompass: Online giving pages, email marketing, event management, alumni directories
• Requires coordination between two systems
• Built on Dynamics 365 platform (powerful but complex)

Element451 Advancement:

• All advancement functions in one interface: alumni profiles, donor segmentation, multi-channel campaigns, event management, gift tracking, and online donation processing
• Single platform eliminates synchronization issues between front-end and back-end systems
• Same intuitive interface as enrollment side (if using Element451 institution-wide)

Winner: Element451 - Unified experience beats dual-system approach.

AI-Powered Campaign Creation and Donor Engagement

This is where Element451's modern architecture delivers significant advantages for resource-constrained advancement teams.

Anthology Raise + Encompass:

• Traditional automation (thank-you workflows, scheduled email blasts)
• Staff must create all campaign content manually
• Segmentation requires manual filter configuration
• Some AI-enhanced analytics but no generative AI

Element451 Advancement:

• AI "Marketing Agents" and "Copywriter Agents" that automatically help create effective campaign content and suggest targeting
• Personalized communications at scale with AI-driven content adaptation
• Automated routine tasks (birthday messages, acknowledgments, event follow-ups) so staff focus on high-touch relationships
• AI-powered segmentation suggests which alumni to target based on engagement patterns and giving likelihood

Real-world impact: A small advancement team can run sophisticated, personalized stewardship campaigns that would be impossible to execute manually, essentially gaining the productivity of additional staff members through AI augmentation.

Winner: Element451 - AI agents provide capabilities that manual systems can't match.

Learn more: Element451 Advancement Software for Colleges

Multi-Channel Alumni Outreach

Anthology Raise + Encompass:

• Strong email marketing through Encompass
• Event management and registration
• Online giving forms and peer-to-peer fundraising
• Limited SMS capabilities (requires integration)
• No AI chat for alumni

Element451 Advancement:

• Integrated email, SMS, web chat, and portal communications all managed from one platform
• AI chatbot can answer alumni questions about giving, events, or engagement opportunities 24/7
• Personalized landing pages and microsites for each alumni segment or campaign
• Event promotion and management with automated reminders across multiple channels

Example: During a regional alumni event, Element451 can send targeted email invitations, follow up via text to non-responders, provide a chatbot on the event landing page to answer logistics questions, and automatically send thank-you messages afterward—all coordinated from one system.

Winner: Element451 - More channels, better coordination.

Data Integration and 360-Degree Constituent View

Anthology Raise + Encompass:

• Good integration between Raise and Encompass (both Anthology products)
• Post-sale, uncertainty about how well these will integrate with other campus systems under different ownership
• Typically separate from enrollment/student data unless you also use Anthology Reach

Element451 Advancement:

• Complete lifecycle view: see an alumnus's full engagement history from prospect through student through alumni in one unified profile
• If using Element451 for both enrollment and advancement, no data silos
• Automatic linking of constituent roles (e.g., alumnus who is also a parent of current student, enabling coordinated messaging)

Example: You discover that a major donor candidate was also very engaged as a student (attended many events, served in student government). This insight, visible in one profile, helps craft more personalized solicitation strategy. With separate systems, this context is harder to see.

Winner: Element451 - Especially powerful if used across the institution.

Staff Productivity and Workflow

Anthology Raise + Encompass:

• Workflow automation for gift receipting and stewardship processes
• Requires staff to manually identify triggers and configure workflows
• Task management across two interfaces

Element451 Advancement:

• AI identifies patterns (e.g., donor hasn't engaged in 6 months) and automatically triggers appropriate outreach or alerts staff
• Automated campaign execution frees staff to focus on major donor cultivation and relationship-building
• Unified task management and workflow across all advancement activities

Winner: Element451 - Proactive AI augmentation vs. reactive manual management.

Analytics and Fundraising Insights

Anthology Raise + Encompass:

• Comprehensive reporting in Raise (campaign progress, pipeline, gift officer performance)
• Engagement metrics from Encompass (email opens, event attendance)
• Uses Microsoft Power BI for advanced analysis
• Retrospective analytics (what happened)

Element451 Advancement:

• Bolt Insights combines engagement and giving data for holistic view of alumni relationships
• Real-time dashboards showing which communications or events drive donations
• Predictive recommendations (which alumni are likely to upgrade giving, who to prioritize for outreach)
• Prescriptive analytics (what to do next)

Winner: Element451 - Predictive, prescriptive insights vs. traditional reporting.

Implementation and User Experience

Anthology Raise + Encompass:

• Dynamics-based Raise has learning curve
• Requires training on two different interfaces
• Support historically split between product teams
• Updates on Microsoft's schedule

Element451 Advancement:

• Single interface for all advancement work with consistent, modern UI
• Same platform as enrollment side, so staff already familiar if institution uses Element451 elsewhere
• One support team for all features
• Frequent updates driven by customer feedback and higher ed needs

Winner: Element451 - Better user experience, faster adoption.

Considerations for Advancement Leaders

If you're using Raise + Encompass today:

1. Data migration is possible: Element451 can import your constituent records, gift history, and engagement data from Anthology systems
2. Workflow recreation: Your stewardship workflows, segmentation strategies, and campaign templates can be rebuilt in Element451 (often with improvements)
3. Training investment: Plan for staff training, but Element451's intuitive interface typically requires less time than learning Dynamics-based Raise
4. Quick wins: Many institutions see immediate productivity gains from AI-powered campaign assistance and automated routine communications

When Element451 Advancement makes sense:

• You have a small advancement team that's stretched thin
• You want to implement sophisticated personalization without massive manual effort
• You value having all constituent data in one unified platform
• You're concerned about Anthology's future and want a stable, innovative partner
• You're already using (or considering) Element451 for enrollment

Bottom Line for Advancement Professionals: Anthology's Raise and Encompass provided strong advancement capabilities, but the uncertainty of their future under Encoura ownership and the lack of AI-powered automation makes Element451 an attractive alternative. Element451 can fulfill the same core needs with a unified, AI-enhanced platform that could significantly improve efficiency and personalization in alumni engagement and fundraising.

Next Steps: Explore Element451's Advancement Solutions

Can Element451 Replace Anthology Engage for Student Engagement?

Anthology Engage (student organizations and co-curricular platform) presents a unique challenge because Element451 doesn't offer a direct one-to-one replacement for club management and involvement tracking. However, there are important considerations and alternative approaches.

What Anthology Engage Provides

Anthology Engage focuses on managing student organizations, campus events, service learning, co-curricular transcripts, and involvement tracking. It allows students to join clubs via an online portal, sign up for events, track participation, and helps administrators measure overall student engagement.

Core features:

• Student organization management (rosters, budgets, elections)
• Event calendar and registration
• Co-curricular transcript and involvement tracking
• Service learning and volunteer coordination
• Engagement analytics

Element451's Student Success and Engagement Approach

Element451 approaches student engagement from a communications, support, and success angle rather than organization management. The platform focuses on sending tailored messages based on interests and behavior, providing 24/7 AI-powered advice and support, and streamlining workflows for student success teams.

What Element451 offers for student engagement:

1. Personalized Communications and Nudges

• Send tailored messages to students based on interests, preferences, and behavior to keep them engaged from move-in to graduation
• Automated outreach about campus resources, events, and opportunities
• Push notifications for real-time updates and reminders

2. 24/7 Student Support

• AI-powered chatbot that instantly delivers tailored advice on academics, campus life, financial aid, and more
• Around-the-clock help answering questions in any language, providing guidance, and keeping students on track

1. StudentHub Portal

• Personalized portal for each student featuring announcements, upcoming events, resources, and tailored content
• Could be used to promote campus events and organizations (though not manage them)

1. Event Promotion and Registration

• Event management tools for creating, promoting, and tracking attendance at campus events
• Multi-channel promotion (email, SMS, chat, portal)
• Could be used for some co-curricular events, especially those managed by admissions, student affairs, or advancement

1. Student Success Analytics

• Track which students are engaging with communications, resources, and support services
• Identify disengaged or at-risk students for proactive outreach
• Measure effectiveness of engagement initiatives

The Honest Assessment

Element451 cannot fully replace Anthology Engage for institutions that heavily rely on:

• Complex student organization management (club rosters, officer elections, budget tracking)
• Comprehensive co-curricular transcript generation
• Detailed involvement tracking across hundreds of organizations

However, Element451 can address many student engagement goals through a different approach:

• Instead of students browsing a clubs portal → Use Element451 to send personalized recommendations about clubs/events that match their interests
• Instead of a formal co-curricular transcript → Track event attendance and engagement through Element451's analytics (if events are managed in the platform)
• Instead of centralized org management → Use Element451 for communications and promotion while managing rosters through simpler tools or integrations

Alternative Strategies for Institutions Leaving Anthology Engage

If you decide Anthology Engage's future is too uncertain and Element451 doesn't cover all your needs, consider these approaches:

1. Hybrid Approach

• Use Element451 for student success communications, support, and engagement tracking
• Adopt a lighter-weight organization management tool (like CampusGroups, OrgSync alternatives, or even modern tools like Presence)
• Benefit from Element451's superior communications and AI while using specialized tools for club administration

2. Simplified Model

• Re-evaluate whether you need complex organization management software
• Some institutions are moving toward simpler models (Google Forms for club rosters, shared calendars for events)
• Use Element451's robust communication and tracking to promote engagement without heavy administrative overhead

3. Wait for Element451 Evolution

• Element451 is actively expanding capabilities based on customer needs
• The company secured $3M in recent funding specifically to expand its student engagement offerings
• They may add more robust student life features in the future

When Element451 Works Well for Student Engagement

Element451's approach is particularly effective when your goals are:

• Retention-focused: Using data and AI to identify and reach disengaged students before they drop out
• Communications-driven: Ensuring students know about resources, events, and opportunities through personalized outreach
• Support-oriented: Providing 24/7 assistance and guidance to keep students on track
• Analytics-based: Understanding which engagement initiatives actually impact retention and success

Case in point: Institutions using Element451's student success features report improved retention through proactive nudges and AI-powered monitoring that flags issues before they become dropouts.

Bottom Line for Student Affairs Leaders

Element451 doesn't replicate all features of Anthology Engage, particularly around organization management. However:

1. If your primary goal is student retention and success → Element451's AI-powered approach may actually be more effective than traditional involvement tracking
2. If you heavily rely on detailed organization management → You'll need to supplement Element451 with other tools or reconsider your approach
3. If you're willing to evolve your engagement strategy → Element451's modern, AI-first approach to keeping students connected and supported may deliver better retention outcomes than traditional methods

The decision depends on your specific needs and willingness to potentially change your student engagement model in exchange for more powerful retention and communication tools.

Next Steps: Explore Element451 Student Success & Engagement Solutions

What's the Migration Process from Anthology to Element451?

If you've decided that migrating from Anthology's Engagement suite to Element451 is the right strategic move, having a clear roadmap is essential. Here's a comprehensive playbook for a successful transition.

Phase 1: Planning and Stakeholder Alignment (Month 1)

1. Assemble Your Project Team

• Executive sponsor (VP or Provost level)
• Functional leads for each Anthology product you're replacing
• IT/integration specialists
• Change management lead
• Element451 implementation partner (assigned at contract signing)

2. Define Success Criteria

• What does successful migration look like? (e.g., "All prospect data migrated with zero loss," "Staff using new system within 3 months")
• What are your must-have features vs. nice-to-have?
• What timeline works with your academic calendar?

3. Secure Executive Buy-In

Build your business case around:

• Risk mitigation: Proactively choosing your platform vs. being forced to react to Encoura's decisions
• Innovation opportunity: Gaining AI capabilities that improve outcomes
• Stability: Partnering with a growing, focused vendor vs. a bankruptcy situation
• ROI: Institutions report saving 160,000+ minutes of staff time with Element451's automation

Critical talking point: "This isn't just replacing a broken system—it's a strategic upgrade that positions us competitively and protects us from vendor instability."

Phase 2: Discovery and Data Audit (Months 1-2)

1. Inventory Your Current Systems

Data audit:

• What data entities exist? (contacts, applications, donations, events, interactions, etc.)
• How much data? (number of records, years of history)
• What data quality issues exist? (duplicates, incomplete records, etc.)
• What must migrate vs. what can be archived?

Integration audit:

• List all systems connected to your Anthology products
• Document data flows (what goes where, how often)
• Identify critical integrations that must work on day one
• Note which integrations can be phased in later

Process audit:

• Document key workflows (e.g., inquiry to enrollment, gift processing, event registration)
• Map out staff roles and responsibilities
• Identify customizations and unique configurations
• Note any compliance or regulatory requirements

2. Clean Your Data BEFORE Migration

Take this opportunity to clean data: remove or merge duplicates, archive old or inactive contacts, ensure data fields are well-organized. A fresh system deserves fresh data.

Best practices:

• Run duplicate detection and merge duplicates in Anthology before export
• Archive records you don't need (e.g., inquiries from 10+ years ago with no subsequent activity)
• Standardize data formats (phone numbers, addresses, etc.)
• Document any data transformations needed for Element451's structure

Phase 3: Element451 Configuration and Data Migration (Months 2-3)

1. Environment Setup

Element451 will spin up your cloud environment—no hardware to install. Configuration focuses on making the platform match your needs.

Configure core modules:

For Enrollment (replacing Reach):

• Set up inquiry forms, application processes, communication plans (email/text templates), event registrations
• Configure admissions workflows and decision-making processes
• Set up territories and counselor assignments
• Define student success triggers and early alert criteria

For Advancement (replacing Raise/Encompass):

• Configure donor categories, fund structures, campaign frameworks
• Set up online giving pages and donation processing
• Create event templates for alumni gatherings
• Configure email and SMS templates for stewardship

For Student Success:

• Define student engagement tracking points and success metrics
• Set up support chatbot knowledge base
• Configure risk detection criteria
• Create intervention workflows

2. Data Migration

Element451's implementation team provides data import templates—map your Anthology data to those templates.

Migration approach:

• Export data from Anthology systems (CSV exports or API pulls)
• Transform data to match Element451's structure
• Import in stages: people first, then related records (applications, gifts, events)
• Verify data integrity by checking sample records and running test reports

3. Integration Setup

Critical integrations to establish:

• SIS integration: Element451 connects to Banner, Colleague, PeopleSoft, Jenzabar, and other common SIS platforms
• LMS integration: If pulling student success data
• Payment processing: For online giving or application fees
• Common App: For undergraduate admissions
• SSO (Single Sign-On): For staff and potentially student/alumni access
• Email/SMS providers: Element451's native capabilities may replace your current tools

Element451's implementation team specializes in integrating with institutional student information systems, handling initial import and export builds while leveraging APIs to ensure seamless integration tailored to your needs.

Phase 4: Configuration, Testing, and Training (Month 3-4)

1. Build Out Workflows and Communications

Recreate (and improve) your existing processes:

• Communication campaigns using Element451's visual drag-and-drop email/SMS builder
• Automated workflows (inquiry nurture sequences, gift acknowledgments, event reminders)
• AI agent configurations for handling routine inquiries and tasks
• Scoring/rating models for prospects or donors

2. User Acceptance Testing

• Use a sandbox or test environment for practice
• Test critical workflows end-to-end
• Verify data accuracy with sample record checks
• Test integrations thoroughly
• Identify and fix any issues before go-live

3. Comprehensive Training

Element451 offers comprehensive training sessions designed to optimize usage and effectiveness, with hands-on exercises, detailed user guides, and ongoing support.

Role-based training:

• Admissions counselors: Managing territories, logging interactions, sending communications, tracking applications
• Gift officers: Donor profiles, gift entry, campaign management, reporting
• Administrators: System configuration, reporting, analytics
• Student affairs staff: Event management, student success tracking

Training tips:

• Show the "why" not just the "how" (how this is better than what they had)
• Highlight that Element451's intuitive interface requires minimal ongoing training
• Provide quick reference guides and video tutorials
• Designate "power users" in each department as go-to resources

Phase 5: Pilot Testing (Weeks 2-4 before go-live)

Run a controlled pilot:

• Route a subset of new activity through Element451 (e.g., inquiries from one event, email to one alumni chapter)
• Keep Anthology running in parallel for comparison
• Gather feedback from pilot users
• Fine-tune workflows and configurations based on real-world use

Benefits of piloting:

• Identifies issues before full rollout
• Builds confidence among users
• Allows refinement without high stakes
• Creates success stories to share with broader team

Phase 6: Go-Live and Cutover (End of Month 4)

1. Pick Your Cutover Date Strategically

For Admissions/Enrollment:

• After major application deadlines (not in the middle of reading season)
• Before recruitment busy season if possible
• Consider summer for undergraduate admissions

For Advancement:

• After fiscal year-end or campaign close
• Not during your major fundraising push
• Consider timing around board meetings or major events

2. Execute the Cutover

• Set a clear cutoff datetime in Anthology (e.g., "11:59 PM Friday, all new activity moves to Element451 Monday")
• Communicate clearly to all staff
• Make Anthology read-only for historical reference
• Direct all new activity to Element451

3. Go-Live Support

• Have both internal project team and Element451 support available during first days
• Hold daily check-ins for the first week
• Quick issue resolution process
• Celebrate early wins publicly

Phase 7: Post-Migration Optimization (Months 5-6)

1. Monitor and Refine

• Daily/weekly check-ins during first month post-launch
• Track key metrics (system adoption, user satisfaction, time saved)
• Address user-reported issues quickly
• Identify opportunities for additional automation

2. Decommission Old Systems Properly

• Export final data archives from Anthology
• Document retention requirements (often need 7+ years of records)
• Cancel Anthology contracts appropriately
• Redirect any external links or integrations still pointing to old systems

3. Demonstrate Value and ROI

Share success metrics with stakeholders:

• Staff time saved through automation
• Improved engagement rates (email opens, event attendance, etc.)
• Faster response times to students/alumni
• New capabilities enabled (24/7 AI support, etc.)

Example: "Within the first month on Element451, our admissions team sent 40% more personalized communications than the previous month on Anthology Reach, while spending 20% less time on manual tasks. Our AI chatbot has handled 500+ student inquiries outside business hours that would have otherwise been missed."

Expected Timeline Summary

Typical Migration Timeline: 3-4 months from contract to full go-live

• Month 1: Planning, discovery, data audit
• Month 2: Configuration, data cleansing, initial migration
• Month 3: Integration setup, workflow building, testing, training
• Month 4: Pilot testing, refinement, go-live

Some institutions with simpler needs have gone live in weeks, while more complex, multi-module deployments may take the full 4+ months. This is still significantly faster than typical 6-12 month implementations for legacy CRM systems.

Migration Best Practices

1. Communicate Proactively

• Regular updates to stakeholders
• Clear messaging about why the change is happening
• Training resources available before go-live
• Support channels clearly identified

2. Plan for Change Management

• Acknowledge that change is hard
• Identify and address resistance early
• Empower champions in each department
• Celebrate wins and progress

3. Maintain Focus on Mission Frame the migration around impact on students and alumni:

• "This change will enable us to provide more personalized support to students"
• "Alumni will experience more timely, relevant engagement"
• "Our staff can focus on relationships instead of manual tasks"

4. Leverage Element451's Expertise Element451's implementation team has extensive experience migrating institutions from legacy systems and provides dedicated support throughout the process. Use their knowledge and best practices.

Risk Mitigation Strategies

What if something goes wrong?

• Data issues: Have backups of all Anthology exports; can re-import if needed
• Integration failures: Test thoroughly before go-live; have manual workarounds ready
• User adoption: Provide extra training and support; don't cut over until ready
• Parallel running: Keep Anthology read-only for reference during first months

Contingency planning:

• Identify critical must-work processes (e.g., accepting applications, processing gifts)
• Have backup plans for each (manual processes if needed temporarily)
• Clear escalation path for issues
• Decision-maker authorized to delay go-live if needed

Post-Migration: Optimizing for Success

Months 6-12: Continuous Improvement

Once live and stable, focus on optimization:

• Implement additional Bolt AI Agents for more tasks
• Refine personalization strategies based on engagement data
• Expand use of analytics and insights
• Consider expanding Element451 to additional use cases

Year 2 and Beyond: Strategic Expansion

If Element451 is working well:

• Expand to additional departments or student populations
• Explore new features as Element451 continues rapid innovation
• Serve as reference for other institutions considering migration
• Potentially become a showcase institution in Element451's network

How Do I Make the Business Case for Switching to Element451?

Successfully migrating from Anthology to Element451 requires more than just technical planning—it requires building a compelling business case that resonates with different stakeholders. Here's how to position the switch effectively.

For Your President/Chancellor: Strategic Positioning

The narrative: This is about institutional resilience and competitive advantage, not just technology.

Key points:

1. Risk Management: Anthology's bankruptcy and asset sales create uncertainty we can't control. Proactively choosing a stable partner protects our operations.
2. Competitive Advantage: AI-powered engagement tools like Element451's Bolt Agents give us capabilities peer institutions lack—24/7 support, personalized communication at scale, and productivity multipliers for our teams.
3. Enrollment and Revenue Impact: Institutions using Element451 report measurable improvements—10% increase in enrollment, 24% decrease in call volume, significant staff time savings.
4. Market Perception: Being on a modern, innovative platform signals that your institution is forward-thinking and student-centric.

Sample pitch: "As you know, Anthology filed for bankruptcy and is selling the CRM and advancement products we rely on daily. Rather than waiting to see what our new vendor's priorities are, I recommend we proactively migrate to Element451—a growing, well-funded company that's purpose-built for higher ed and offers AI capabilities that can improve our enrollment outcomes and alumni engagement. This is an opportunity to turn a vendor problem into a strategic advantage."

For Your CFO/Budget Authority: Financial Case

Focus on: Total cost of ownership, ROI, and budget predictability.

ROI calculation framework:

Hard savings:

• Staff time saved through automation (hours × hourly rate)
• Reduced need for external consultants
• Potential for reduced headcount needs (through efficiency, not layoffs)
• Lower integration/maintenance costs

Revenue benefits:

• Improved enrollment yield (even 2-3% improvement = significant tuition revenue)
• Increased alumni giving (better engagement = more donations)
• Reduced student attrition (retention improvements have major financial impact)

Sample calculation:

If we improve enrollment yield by just 3% through better engagement:

- 1,000 admits × 3% = 30 additional students

- 30 students × $40,000 net tuition = $1.2M additional revenue

- Even if Element451 costs $100K annually, ROI is 12:1

Budget predictability argument: Element451 offers straightforward pricing that includes support and analytics, unlike the uncertain future costs with Encoura.

For Your IT Leadership: Technical Case

Focus on: Integration, maintenance burden, and technical risk.

Technical advantages:

Modern Architecture

• API-first, cloud-native platform vs. Dynamics-based legacy approach
• Easier to integrate and maintain
• Regular updates without major version upgrade projects

Integration Ecosystem

• Pre-built connectors for Banner, Colleague, PeopleSoft, Canvas, Blackboard, etc.
• RESTful APIs for custom integrations
• Supports modern middleware like Ethos Integration Hub

Reduced Maintenance Burden

• SaaS model means no server maintenance
• Automatic updates and security patches
• Less custom code to maintain

Security and Compliance

• SOC 2 Type II certified
• FERPA, GDPR compliant
• Regular security audits and updates

Risk mitigation:

• Current state risk: Anthology systems splitting across three vendors creates integration maintenance nightmare
• Future state benefit: Unified platform with single vendor responsibility

Sample pitch: "Our current Anthology ecosystem is being broken up—SIS going to Ellucian, CRM to Encoura. Maintaining integrations across competing vendors will be a nightmare. Element451 offers modern APIs, pre-built higher ed integrations, and one throat to choke. Plus, their cloud-native SaaS model means we get out of the business of maintaining servers and managing complex upgrades."

For Faculty Senate/Academic Leadership: Student Success Case

Focus on: Student outcomes, retention, and academic support.

Student success argument:

Personalized Support at Scale

• AI-powered 24/7 chatbot provides instant answers to student questions about academics, financial aid, campus life
• Proactive outreach to at-risk students before they fall through cracks
• Institutions report using AI to detect risk and send personalized nudges, improving retention

Better Enrollment = Better Student Body

• More effective recruitment yields better-fit students
• Personalized communication helps students make informed enrollment decisions
• Earlier, more meaningful connections with incoming students

Data-Informed Student Support

• Analytics showing student engagement patterns and success predictors
• Advisors have better information to provide targeted support
• Measure what actually works in student engagement

Sample pitch: "Element451's AI capabilities mean students get immediate answers to their questions at 2 AM when they're researching schools or struggling with a decision. Our success coaches get proactive alerts about students showing early warning signs. This isn't just about technology—it's about using modern tools to support student success and retention, which ultimately serves our academic mission."

For Advancement Board/Foundation: Fundraising Impact Case

Focus on: Donor engagement, campaign effectiveness, and ROI on advancement technology.

Advancement argument:

Donor Engagement at Scale

• AI-powered personalization enables 1:1 donor relationships even with thousands of constituents
• Multi-channel outreach (email, SMS, chat, events) coordinated in one platform
• More touchpoints without proportionally more staff

Campaign Effectiveness

• AI assists with campaign creation, targeting, and content optimization
• Real-time analytics show what's working and what's not
• Predictive recommendations identify which donors to prioritize

Lifelong Engagement

• Unified platform tracks constituents from prospect through student through alumnus
• Better data = better solicitation strategy
• Alumni who feel connected give more generously

ROI example:

If improved engagement increases giving by just 5%:

- Current annual fund: $5M

- 5% improvement = $250K additional revenue

- Element451 cost: ~$100K

- Net gain: $150K (plus long-term donor development)

Sample pitch: "Our advancement office is doing incredible work, but they're hampered by uncertain technology. Element451 will give them AI-powered tools to personalize outreach at scale, identify likely donors before manual analysis would find them, and engage alumni more effectively across multiple channels. In an era when every dollar matters, this investment in advancement technology will generate returns many times over."

Addressing Common Objections

Objection 1: "Why not wait and see what Encoura does with these products?"

Response:

• We know 30% of product staff may not transition, meaning support and development will suffer
• Feature development is already frozen and will remain so for 12-18 months minimum
• If we wait and conditions are bad, we'll be migrating under pressure instead of on our terms
• Our peer institutions are evaluating now—we don't want to be last to move

Objection 2: "We just finished implementing Anthology Reach/Raise. Why migrate again?"

Response:

• Sunk cost fallacy—previous investment doesn't change future reality
• Element451 implementation is faster (3-4 months vs. 6-12+) than what you went through with Anthology
• Every month we delay is missed opportunity for better tools
• Element451's team specializes in migrations and provides comprehensive support

Objection 3: "Element451 seems expensive."

Response:

• Compare total cost of ownership, not just licensing fees
• Element451's pricing includes support, analytics, and implementation assistance that are often extra with other vendors
• Calculate ROI on improved enrollment yield or fundraising effectiveness
• Consider the cost of NOT having modern tools (lost enrollments, missed donations, staff frustration)

Objection 4: "Our staff are already overwhelmed. They can't handle another system change."

Response:

• Element451's intuitive interface requires less training than complex Dynamics-based systems
• AI automation actually reduces staff workload long-term by handling routine tasks
• Change is hard, but staying on uncertain platform is harder
• We'll provide comprehensive training and transition support
• Frame it as giving them better tools to do their jobs, not more work

Objection 5: "What if Element451 has problems too? We're just trading one risk for another."

Response:

• Element451 is well-funded, growing, and focused exclusively on higher ed
• No debt burden, no bankruptcy risk
• Strong reputation in market with hundreds of satisfied institution clients
• Every technology choice has risk, but Element451's risk profile is dramatically better than staying with a product being sold in bankruptcy

Sample Executive Summary for Decision-Makers

Situation: Anthology filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025. Our CRM and advancement products (Reach, Raise, Encompass) are being sold to Encoura as part of the restructuring, expected to close by Q1 2026.

Implications:

• Up to 30% of product support staff will not transition to new owner
• Product development frozen during transition (12-18 months minimum)
• Future product direction uncertain under Encoura
• Integration with other systems at risk as Anthology ecosystem splits

Recommendation: Proactively migrate to Element451, a modern AI-first engagement platform purpose-built for higher education.

Benefits:

• Stability: Partner with growing, focused vendor vs. bankruptcy situation
• Innovation: Gain AI capabilities (chatbots, automation, predictive analytics) that improve outcomes
• Efficiency: Documented staff time savings (160,000+ minutes) through automation
• Results: Institutions report enrollment increases and improved engagement

Investment:

• Implementation: 3-4 months, one-time cost
• Annual licensing: [specific quote based on your size]
• ROI: Pays for itself through improved enrollment yield and/or fundraising effectiveness

Timeline: Begin Q4 2025, complete by Q1 2026 (before Anthology changes take effect)

Risk of Waiting: Forced to react to new owner's decisions vs. controlling our own technology roadmap

Next Step: Approve project initiation and budget allocation

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Technology Future

Anthology's bankruptcy marks the end of an era in higher education technology—the dream of a single vendor providing your entire technology ecosystem has proven financially unsustainable. The fundamental challenges of growth-by-acquisition, especially when fueled by debt, have come home to roost.

For institutions using Anthology's Engagement products, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity:

The Challenge: By early 2026, your CRM and advancement tools will be owned by Encoura, a company whose core business is enrollment research, not software development. Up to 30% of the staff who know these products could be gone. Product development will have been frozen for at least a year. Integrations with other systems will be at risk. You'll face contract renegotiations, potential price increases, and deep uncertainty about the future.

The Opportunity: You can proactively choose a modern, innovative platform like Element451 that:

• Offers AI-powered capabilities that legacy systems simply cannot match
• Is stable, well-funded, and focused exclusively on higher education success
• Can improve your enrollment outcomes, alumni engagement, and staff productivity
• Gives you control over your timeline instead of reacting to vendor changes

The Cost of Inaction

Staying with Anthology's products as they transition to Encoura isn't "playing it safe"—it's accepting risk and uncertainty while sacrificing opportunity. Every month you spend on a frozen platform is a month your competitors spend building advantage with modern tools.

The institutions that will thrive in the next decade aren't those with the most conservative technology strategies—they're those that recognize when it's time to evolve and have the courage to act on that recognition.

Your Next Steps

If you're ready to explore whether Element451 is the right fit for your institution:

Request a personalized demo focused on your specific needs (enrollment, advancement, or both)

• Schedule Your Demo

Review Element451's resources for deeper understanding:

• Element451 CRM Overview
• Advancement Solutions
• Student Success Platform
• Bolt AI Agents

Connect with peers who have made similar transitions:

• Ask Element451 for reference institutions and case studies
• Attend higher ed technology conferences where Element451 clients present
• Join relevant LinkedIn groups and professional associations

Build your internal business case using this guide's frameworks and arguments

Act with appropriate urgency: With Anthology's restructuring expected to complete by Q1 2026, the window for proactive planning is closing. Starting your evaluation and migration process in Q4 2025 allows you to complete the transition on your timeline, not someone else's.

A Final Perspective

Technology transitions are never easy. They require investment, planning, and change management. But done strategically, they can be transformative.

Anthology's bankruptcy reflects broader dynamics in the EdTech market: the risks of growth by acquisition, the increasing role of creditors in shaping company outcomes, and the consolidation of vendors into fewer, larger players. These market forces will continue to shape the landscape.

The institutions that succeed in this environment won't be those that simply react to vendor changes—they'll be those that thoughtfully evaluate their options, make strategic decisions aligned with their mission, and partner with vendors who share their values and commitment to student success.

Anthology's bankruptcy isn't just a vendor problem—it's a watershed moment that's forcing higher education to reconsider how it approaches mission-critical technology. Those who use this moment to upgrade to modern, purpose-built platforms like Element451 will emerge stronger, more innovative, and better positioned to serve the next generation of students and alumni.

The question isn't whether change is coming to your enrollment and advancement technology—Anthology's bankruptcy has already decided that for you. The question is whether you'll control that change or let it control you.

Choose wisely. Choose proactively. Choose a partner built for your future, not your past.

Have questions about migrating from Anthology to Element451? Contact Element451's higher education team for a personalized consultation.

About Element451

Element451 is the AI Workforce Platform for Higher Education, providing AI agent teams for Admissions, Marketing, Engagement, and Student Success. The platform combines an AI-first CRM with intelligent automation, multi-channel communications, and advanced analytics to help institutions increase enrollment, improve student success, and amplify staff productivity.

Backed by PSG and other strategic investors, Element451 serves colleges and universities across the United States, from community colleges to large research institutions, helping them create meaningful, personalized, and engaging interactions with students and alumni throughout their lifelong relationship with the institution.

Key Sources and References

This comprehensive guide draws from multiple authoritative sources:

Primary Sources:

• Anthology's Official Bankruptcy Announcement
• Anthology Restructuring FAQ
• Bankruptcy Court Filings

Industry Analysis:

• Phil Hill's On EdTech Newsletter - Independent higher ed technology analysis
• Anthology Declares Bankruptcy Analysis
• Anthology's Chapter 11 by the Numbers
• Campus Technology Coverage
• EdWeek Market Brief Analysis
• Bloomberg Financial News
• ListEdTech Market Analysis

Element451 Resources:

• Element451 Official Website
• Higher Education CRM Platform
• Bolt AI Agents
• Advancement Solutions
• Student Success & Engagement
• Element451 Implementation Support
• CRM for Higher Education Guide
• Alumni Management Software Guide
• Student Enrollment Management System Guide

Disclaimer: This guide is based on publicly available information about Anthology's bankruptcy filing as of October 2025 and Element451's published capabilities. Institutions should conduct their own due diligence, consult with legal and financial advisors, and verify all information before making technology decisions. While this guide aims to provide helpful analysis, it should not be considered legal or financial advice.

Sources and References:

All citations in this document link to publicly available sources including:

• Anthology's official bankruptcy filings and FAQ documents
• Industry analysis from On EdTech (Phil Hill), Campus Technology, EdWeek Market Brief, and other education technology publications
• Element451's official product pages, blog posts, and press releases
• Third-party reviews and assessments from Software Advice, G2, and other platforms.