Welcome! If you’re here, that means you love IU as much as we do. We want to help you find a place where you can make a difference. Volunteering for Indiana University and the IUAA opens the door to a world of possibilities, and we’re excited to get to know you!
Become an alumni volunteer
Who do alumni volunteers directly support?
The IUAA and its volunteers support nearly 775,000 alumni across the globe. We rely on alumni volunteers to engage with alumni either as individual volunteers or in our affinity, affiliate, academic/campus-based, and geographic-based communities, as well as our global online community, the Virtual Alumni Network.
These groups share a common bond of self-identity or experience. For example, the IUAA supports the Asian Alumni Association, as well as the IU Auditorium Alumni Association—a community of alums who worked at the auditorium as students.
Academic/campus-based communities organize around the academic school or regional campus through which they earned their degree. For example, The Media School Alumni Association, the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology Alumni Association, or the IU South Bend Alumni Association.
Referred to as “chapters,” these volunteer-led communities are defined by where alumni live. The IUAA supports local chapters all over the world.
Choose your own path
Your role as an alumni volunteer will vary depending on your interests and availability. There are options to serve in-person or virtually; as a member of an alumni group or as an individual volunteer supporting the IUAA or your school or campus. It’s up to you!
It's easy to get involved! Browse the following volunteer opportunities and complete the Volunteer Interest Form to get started.
Here are some ways you might get involved:
Volunteer for the IU Alumni Association
- Description: Most of the IU Alumni Association’s chartered alumni communities maintain alumni boards that meet regularly to plan and execute alumni programming and communicate with their constituents. These include school-based, geographic-based (both domestic and international), and affinity and affiliate group-based alumni boards. We have over 1,300 trained and certified alumni volunteers serving on alumni community boards.
- Time commitment: Varies depending on board position. Estimate 2-10 hours per month. Most board members serve three-year terms.
Individual volunteers who participate in IUAA Campaigns support key priorities for Indiana University and the IU Alumni Association. Volunteers may choose to participate in one or more campaigns to receive virtual assets and instructions for supporting that campaign. Volunteers also report on the success of the campaign afterwards by completing a very brief reporting form. Campaigns include: IUAA scholarship, IU Day, IU trustee election, community service, and watch parties.
IUAA Scholarships
- Description: The IU Alumni Association has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships to thousands of IU students thanks to our devoted volunteers. Volunteers will promote scholarships via their personal social media channels and encourage students to apply. Social media proficiency recommended.
- Time commitment: Less than one hour/week
IU Day
- Description: IU Day is a worldwide event honoring Indiana University and the people who make IU possible (that’s you). It’s held annually in mid-late April. Volunteers can support IU Day by sharing IU-related content via their personal social media channels. Social media proficiency recommended.
- Time commitment: Less than one hour/week during the month of April
Trustee election
- Description: The Board of Trustees is IU’s governing body, its legal owner, and final authority. It is composed of nine experienced leaders, from a variety of backgrounds, whose stewardship ensures a strong future for Indiana University. IU graduates have the unique responsibility of electing three of IU’s nine trustees. Volunteers will support the trustee election by promoting the election via personal social media channels and encouraging IU graduates to cast their vote. Social media proficiency recommended.
- Time commitment: Less than one hour/week during May and June
Community service
- Description: As IU alumni, we’re part of a global community. We’re passionate about making the world a better place and we have a proud tradition of service. Serving our local communities is one of the ways we can demonstrate the power of IU’s alumni network and truly make an impact in tose communities. Volunteers are encouraged to plan, activate, and report on their service projects and events throughout the year. Event planning experience is helpful.
- Time commitment: Dependent on project
Watch parties
- Description: Hosting watch parties is a fun and engaging way to bring alumni together, in-person or virtually, in the name of IU. Volunteers will plan and host virtual or in-person events at locations in their community to watch performing arts performances, academic-based presentations, or any of IU’s athletic teams compete. Host events one time or for the whole season – it’s up to you! Event planning experience as recommended.
- Time commitment: Varies
- Description: Lifelong Learning courses are personal enrichment, noncredit courses taught by IU’s world-class faculty and other IU experts, and are available to anyone who is interested. Most of our courses are virtual via Zoom, but we have some in-person courses as well. In-person courses are held in Bloomington, Ind.. In exchange for hosting a course, volunteers get to attend for free! Experience with Zoom is required.
- Time commitment: Varies depending on the course. Most courses are between one and four sessions long, and one to two hours in length.
Volunteer for your school or campus
When you get involved as a volunteer for your school or campus, you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of students and your fellow alumni. The best alumni networks are fueled by passionate and committed alumni, like you.
Each school/campus offers multiple opportunities to get involved. On the volunteer profile form, select the school or campus you’re interested in supporting and an alumni relations staff person will contact you to share volunteer opportunities.
Let’s get started!
Looking to serve IU and its alumni in a larger capacity?
Run in the trustee election. Graduates of Indiana University may serve as a member of the IU Board of Trustees, Indiana University’s governing body. The board is made up of nine trustees, three of whom are elected by alumni. The remaining six are appointed by Indiana’s governor.
Become an alumni recruiter in partnership with IU Bloomington’s Office of Admissions.