Grant for Alumni Relations

The NEAT is interested in funding projects that benefit the alumni relations profession. We encourage alumni professionals to conduct research and try new ways to engage alumni. Grant-funded projects may be specific to alumni of the member institutions if experiences and findings can be applied to other alumni organizations.

The purpose of the Grant is to encourage alumni professionals to be creative and innovative.

Money

The Grant Committee will award grants of up to $5,000 per project with a maximum of $20,000 per year.

Calendar

Awards will be announced by June 30 of each year.

Clipboard

A grant application may be submitted at any time but grants will not be awarded until June.

Since 2009 over 50 grants have been awarded.

Congratulations to the past NEAT Grant Recipients

2022-23 NEAT Grant Project Reports

University of Colorado Colorado Springs Alumni Association – Growing the Volunteer Network

Mizzou Alumni Association – Gold Medal Society

Texas Tech Alumni Association – Legacy University


2021-22 NEAT Grant Project Reports

Northern Illinois University Alumni Association - Campus Partner Training

University of Detroit Mercy Alumni Association - Becoming a Better U

Roosevelt University Alumni Association- Young Professionals Association Laker Leadership Conference

UCCS Alumni Association- Student to Alumni Transition and Pandemic Changes

University of Maine Alumni Association- DEI Initiative


2020-21 NEAT Grant Project Reports

Ashland University Alumni Association - Student-Alumni Mentoring Program

University of Detroit Mercy Alumni Association - Student Alumni Leadership Council

Texas Tech Alumni Association- Techsan Connection: Planning and Implementing an Alumni Networking Platform


2019-2020 NEAT Grant Project Reports

K-State Alumni Association - K-State Alumni Association Alumni and Friends Survey

Malone University - Increasing Alumni Engagement through Affinity Driven Philanthropy


2018-19 NEAT Grant Project Reports

Buffalo State Alumni Association – Educational Opportunity Program Alumni Leadership Workshop

K-State Alumni Association - Developing a Digital Marketing Strategy Based on Data Analytics

Northern Illinois University Alumni Association – NIU Young Alumni Engagement Event Series

Findlay Alumni Association – Engaging Young Alumni Beyond Traditional Events


2017-18 NEAT Grant Project Reports

Albright College Alumni Association – Social Media and Alumni Engagement

CCSU Alumni Association – Career Connections

K-State Alumni Association – Strategies for Engaging Multicultural and International Alumni

Virginia Tech Alumni Association – Development of Office Volunteers

Wayne State Alumni Association – Student-Alumni Council Leadership


“The K‑State Alumni Association utilized a NEAT grant for hiring a K‑State student to help with a readership survey regarding our member magazine. By utilizing the student, we were able to expedite the process for conducting the research and developing recommendations to further improve this top-rated member benefit. Through the research, the Alumni Association gained valuable feedback for enhancing the magazine and the student gained valuable experience to add to her resume. The NEAT grant made it a win-win for everyone.”

Linda J. Cook, Chief of Staff and Director of Community Relations
K‑State Alumni Association

“The NEAT grant we received for the Ithaca College Traditions App was a game changer for us! The funding allowed us to make the app a reality, and to implement strategies for student engagement that have not been used before. Since the launch of the initial app, we have seen participation grow and have been able to gather useful information to continue to develop its usefulness as a tool to measure engagement.”

Lynne Pierce, Associate Director Volunteer Programs
Ithaca College Alumni Association

“The NEAT Grant that Drexel University received to support the development of professional affinity groups allowed us to pilot programs and volunteer networks that would facilitate networking and career development among alumni on the basis of a shared professional specialty. With the support from NEAT, we successfully launched five groups in one year. Once we were able to share the success of these pilot groups with the larger alumni community, we were able to identify and engage other volunteers who had an interest in this type of programming, and we are on track to double the number of established professional groups by the end of this calendar year. We know that these offerings are meaningful to our alumni, and the funding from NEAT provided the resources needed to get this initiative off the ground.”

Lauren R. Villanueva,Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations
Drexel University Alumni Association Association