Alumni events keep alumni connected to their school — and each other. These events are also great opportunities to reinvigorate your constituents and share with them what your institution has been doing with their generous donations.
For busy advancement offices (especially overworked alumni relations teams), however, it’s easy to fall into a rut when it comes to event planning. Save your team some brainstorming time and stir their creativity with these inspirational alumni event ideas.
1) Friendly Competition
Who said all alumni events need to be posh affairs? A good, old-fashioned beer pong tournament can go far in bringing back fond memories for alumni — especially younger alumni. And before you think that’s too crass, see how the Harvard Club of Princeton did it in 2013.
Bay Area Aztecs: Join fellow SDSU alumni for the annual bocce ball tournament at Campo di Bocce in Livermore on 5/20 https://t.co/jMSDtiZNU5 pic.twitter.com/zdpiWq49GK
— sdsualumni (@sdsualumni) May 8, 2017
Sports Tournaments
Tap into the passion for sports by organizing alumni tournaments such as basketball, soccer, or golf. Invite alumni to a private tent or section with complimentary food and drinks where they can mingle before the game. Hold a fundraising raffle or host another friendly, fun challenge to raise additional revenue.
Don’t limit yourself to your own school’s athletic events, however. Many pro sports teams are happy to partner up with advancement organizations to offer group tickets at a discounted rate. Set up an alumni gathering at the game to give constituents an opportunity to socialize with other alumni, students, and faculty. The Tufts Alumni organization does this at a Red Sox game each year.
Join us for the Red Sox vs Yankees game at Yankee Stadium on Sat, Aug. 12! https://t.co/kYFPKtuSdW pic.twitter.com/DafZpBMcM9
— Tufts Alumni (@TuftsAlumni) August 7, 2017
Scavenger Hunts
Create an engaging and interactive experience with scavenger hunts. Design the scavenger hunt to include nostalgic elements from the alumni's time at the institution, incorporating landmarks and fond memories. This event idea encourages teamwork and friendly competition among attendees.
Golf Tournament
Golf isn’t just a great excuse for executives to schmooze with their clients and with each other. It’s also a great way to get your alumni together in support of your institution.
Charity golf tournaments are popular for a reason. They’re fun, they’re outdoors, and they’re low-key enough that mingling and networking are easy to do.
If you’re inviting alumni only, try pairing participants up in an alternate-shot tournament (each person in a two-person team takes a turn on each alternate hole). But if you’re expanding your invitation to parents, faculty, and local businesses, you may want to play “scramble” style in groups of four.
Reach out to local businesses and organizations who may want to sponsor the tournament. Sponsorships can be a lucrative source of additional funds. Hopkins Golf Tournament for Scholarship and Dublin City University’s Annual President’s Cup are both great examples to turn to for inspiration.
2) Alumni Night Out
Get the Annual Giving and Alumni Relations teams together to create a night your alumni will remember. Charge attendees a small fee for the event, and let event-goers know that you’ll be accepting additional donations throughout the night.
While it’s always a good idea to have team members mingling and networking around the room, don’t forget that staffed information booths can work well, too. Make donations easy to give by garnishing each booth with a tablet and an easy-to-use online giving form. This way excited donors can give when they’re moved to.
Alumni Casino Night
Organize a lively casino night where alumni can try their luck at various games and win cash prizes. This event idea adds a touch of glamour and entertainment, creating a fun way for alumni to come together and support a good cause.
Tailgate Party
Tap into the spirit of camaraderie and school pride by hosting a tailgate party before a big game. Invite alumni to gather on campus or in a designated area near the venue, offering delicious food, drinks, and games to create a festive atmosphere.
3) Gala With a Silent Auction
If posh is more your prospects’ speed, consider a fundraising gala and silent auction. Guests pay a price to attend the dinner, which allows them to socialize with other generous alumni while also supporting the university. This revenue alone can help your team make headway toward annual giving goals, but adding the silent auction creates a bigger opportunity for everyone
Silent auctions are particularly successful with wealthier groups of alumni. Offer rare and distinctive auction items (art, items signed by pro athletes or astronauts who also attended the school, etc.) and you may incite a bidding war — and the winner will always be your institution.
With certain alumni, auctioning off the right to name something can motivate them to open their wallets to support their school. For example, a college may auction off the right to name a new building or a wing of the library.
4) Cruise
A boat cruise is a great option for advancement teams that are near enough to a body of water to pull it off. Think about it: Your alumni are trapped together on a boat for the duration of the cruise. Provide entertainment, good food, and an open bar, and alumni will feel more connected (and more generous) in no time. Wesleyan University does a great job with their yearly NESCAC Young Alumni Cruise in New York.
5) Speaking Event With a Famous Alumni
What better way to get alumni excited than to allow them to say “I went to school with [insert famous person’s name]!”? Organize an event around a motivational speaker, sports star, astronaut, author, or other famous (or popular) alumnus or alumna, and sell tickets to support your fundraising goals. These speakers can cover a wide range of topics of interest, such as entrepreneurship, leadership, or industry-specific knowledge. A bonus benefit of this type of event is the speaker is often able to use his or her platform to spread the word even further, making the marketing a bit easier on your team.
As with any event, advanced planning is critical. If your speaker is highly in-demand, however, even more advanced planning is necessary. Reach out to your chosen speaker at least 6 months out, and have a backup in mind if the dates won’t work for him or her.
6) Music Festival
Live music can be another great way to help alumni reminisce about their school years. Outdoor music festivals and concerts are typically summertime events, but if you have access to a great indoor venue, this event can work year-round to bring a group of your constituents together for a good time. Amherst Association of Southern California brought in Tony Bennet for a picnic and concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
7) Wine or Scotch Tasting
A wine tasting may be a classic (and classy) event type — but scotch tastings are also rising in popularity. No matter which beverage you choose to center your event around, you can make the experience more robust with a multi-course meal. Or get your alumni in a competitive frame of mind with a taste-testing challenge. No tasting is complete, however, without a sommelier or other well-trained expert to guide participants through the history and method behind each drink.
8) Day of Service
You can organize an alumni volunteer day any time of year by partnering up with organizations like United Way and Habitat for Humanity. But certain times of the year stir constituents to be more generous with their time.
For example:
Random Acts of Kindness Week
Make a Difference Day
Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning
For a bigger list of days with high volunteerism rates in North America, check out this page.
Serving others on behalf of your alma mater is a great way for young alumni to make a difference and get involved. Make it easy for your alumni to do so by organizing days of service throughout the year.
9) Networking Events
Arrange networking events that bring together interested alumni from various professional fields. These events can include panel discussions, keynote speakers, and opportunities for alumni to connect and exchange ideas. Such events foster valuable connections and provide a platform for alumni to support one another professionally.
10) Cultural Events
Celebrate the diversity and talents of alumni by hosting cultural events that showcase music, dance, art, or theater performances. Encourage alumni to participate by showcasing their artistic talents or forming alumni-led bands or theater groups. These creative alumni events provide a platform for alumni to share their passion with the community.
BONUS! - Alumni Reunion Weekend
Plan a fun weekend-long event filled with activities, workshops, campus tours, and social gatherings. Alumni can reconnect with old friends, relive fond memories, and create new ones. This comprehensive event allows attendees to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of their alma mater. It's also an event that can last for two or more days, giving more alumni more opportunities to join in the festivities.
Give Them An Event to Remember!
Remember, successful alumni events require careful organization, advanced planning, and effective communication. Reach out to alumni through various channels, including social media, alumni newsletters, and direct contact. Provide incentives and create a sense of excitement to encourage alumni to attend and actively participate in the events. With these creative alumni event ideas, you can create memorable experiences that strengthen the alumni community and enhance alumni engagement with your institution.