University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation

What University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation does

The University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation is a nonprofit fundraising and alumni-engagement organization that stewards private philanthropic support for the University of North Dakota. Founded June 13, 1889, and headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota, it operates with approximately 68 staff organized into five departments: Executive, Development, Finance & Operations, Marketing & Communications, and Talent Management. Its core function is donor cultivation, gift processing, and stewardship of restricted and unrestricted funds flowing to UND programs, scholarships, and facilities.

The foundation runs a multi-tier donor recognition architecture that includes the 1,000+ member 1889 Legacy Society (planned giving), the Eternal Flame Society with six giving circles, and the Champions Club, alongside a curated alumni travel program operated in partnership with GoNext. Its principal commercial/operational surface is the Forever UND capital campaign, whose original $500M goal was exceeded ahead of schedule and uplifted to $625M to be completed by the end of 2026. The foundation has also extended its programmatic footprint into community wellness (Blue Zones Project partnership with Altru Health System) and public health (ND85 initiative with the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services), and publishes digital content such as UND Eats.

The revenue model is philanthropic rather than transactional: the foundation does not sell a product or service, but rather secures donations, bequests, and grants from alumni and external supporters and deploys them in support of UND's mission. Go-to-market relies on direct donor relationships, alumni events, planned-giving programs, and brand-affiliated content channels rather than commercial pricing or contracts.

Name

University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation

Legal name

UND Alumni Association & Foundation

Website

https://undalumni.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises and stewards private philanthropic funds for the University of North Dakota, managing donor recognition programs, a $625M capital campaign, and alumni engagement initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Alumni Relations & Alumni Engagement Programs (EDALAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB), Major Gifts, Planned Giving & Endowment Development (EDALAOAC), Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD), Alumni Communications, Marketing & Publications (EDALAOAF), Alumni Events, Reunions & Regional Chapters (EDALAOAG)

Keywords

• Alumni engagement services
• Fundraising and development
• Donor recognition programs
• Higher education philanthropy
• Alumni relations services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Forks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations & Fundraising: The organization raises funds through annual giving, planned/legacy gifts, major donor recognition circles (Adelphi Circle, William Budge Circle, Dr. Cora Smith Circle, Thomas Clifford Circle, President's Circle), Champions Club memberships, and the ongoing Forever UND capital campaign (current goal: $625 million by end of 2026). The 1889 Legacy Society recognizes donors who have made estate, planned, or deferred gifts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation engages University of North Dakota alumni and supporters through events, communications, and volunteer opportunities, while raising philanthropic funds for the university via annual giving, planned and legacy gifts, and major donor recognition programs. It is the official steward of alumni relations and charitable fundraising for UND, supporting students, faculty, programs, and capital needs through donor-funded initiatives.

Product overview

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation operates as a comprehensive alumni engagement and fundraising organization for the University of North Dakota. Its product portfolio consists primarily of service offerings rather than a unified software platform. Key offerings include: the UND Alumni Magazine (quarterly publication) and multiple email newsletters (Big 3 monthly, Insider News biweekly, 1889 Newsletter, Annual Giving Newsletter, Eternal Flame Society Newsletter); donor recognition programs including the Eternal Flame Society with its Giving Circles and the 1889 Legacy Society for planned giving; the Forever UND Campaign fundraising initiative; the News & Stories digital content platform with sub-features like Class Notes, Alumni Authors, and UND Eats directory; operational services including event support, e-blast communications, fundraising initiative planning, and donation requests; and a donor portal for managing donor profiles and transactions. The organization does not appear to offer a software product in the traditional SaaS sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eternal Flame Society: Donor recognition society honoring alumni and friends who have passed the torch of knowledge to the next generation through financial contributions.
• 1889 Legacy Society
• Champions Club
• ND85 Initiative
• Forever UND: The Campaign for the University of North Dakota

Products and services

• UND Alumni Magazine Quarterly flagship print and digital publication distributed to UND alumni and donors, featuring university news, alumni stories, and donor recognition content.
• Big 3 Newsletter Weekly digital newsletter highlighting three top stories for UND alumni and supporters.
• Insider News Insider news content stream providing UND alumni and donors with timely updates and behind-the-scenes content.
• 1889 Newsletter Newsletter serving members of the 1889 Legacy Society, UND's planned giving recognition program.
• Annual Giving Newsletter Newsletter communicating impact and updates to UND annual fund donors.
• Eternal Flame Society Newsletter Newsletter for members of the Eternal Flame Society, UND's major donor recognition program.
• News & Stories Web Platform Online news and stories hub featuring UND alumni achievements, donor impact stories, and university updates.
• 1889 Legacy Society UNDAF's planned giving recognition society that honors donors who have included the University of North Dakota in their estate plans.
• Eternal Flame Society Major donor recognition society that honors individuals and families making significant contributions to UND.
• Forever UND Campaign Comprehensive fundraising campaign mobilizing alumni and donor support for University of North Dakota priorities.
• Champions Club Annual giving membership program that recognizes UND supporters contributing recurring and sustained gifts.
• Jensen Leadership Legacy Leadership legacy giving program honoring major benefactors who have shaped UND through transformational gifts.
• UND Eats Food Directory Online food directory connecting alumni and visitors with local restaurants and food businesses in the UND community.
• Alumni Travel Program Curated travel experiences offered to UND alumni as an engagement and community-building offering.
• Event Support Services Event planning and support services for UND alumni gatherings, reunions, and donor recognition events.
• Donor Portal Online portal enabling donors to manage gifts, view giving history, update contact information, and access tax receipts.
• Donation Request Service Service enabling donors and supporters to request charitable giving information, initiate gifts, and connect with development staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• Forever UND campaign surpassed its $500 million initial goal ahead of schedule, with a new target of $625 million by end of 2026.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GoNextminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUND Alumni Association & Foundation partners with GoNext, a travel operator, to organize alumni group travel experiences. GoNext handles logistical details (flights, hotels, excursions), allowing UND alumni to travel together with like-minded peers while the association focuses on engagement and community-building.
• Altru Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAltru Health System is a primary sponsor of the Blue Zones Project Grand Forks initiative led by UND alumni Nicole Benson, Ashlee Kleveland, and Whitney Miller. Altru's Chief Philanthropy and Partnership Officer (Kristi Hall-Jiran, '90) chairs the BZPGF steering committee. Altru is actively working toward Blue Zones Project Approved worksite designation.
• North Dakota Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is a sponsor of the Blue Zones Project Grand Forks, a three-year grant-funded initiative that aims to enhance well-being, reduce healthcare costs, and increase quality of life for Grand Forks residents.
• Blue Zones ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Zones Project Grand Forks is a community transformation initiative based on the Power 9 habits of the world's longest-living populations, as discovered by National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner. UND alumni lead the Grand Forks implementation, which is targeting citywide certification over a three-year period.
• Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation (EMLF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation (EMLF) is a committed supporter of higher education in North Dakota, providing funding opportunities to UND. UNDAAF facilitates all EMLF application and reporting processes, working closely with college deans and program directors to meet all foundation requirements.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• University of Michigan Alumni Association: Large, established public-flagship alumni association with a much broader portfolio (clubs, travel, learning, advocacy) and a multi-billion-dollar campaign — useful upper-bound benchmark for what a mature UNDAAF could evolve into.

Regional players

• Minnesota State University Moorhead Alumni Association: Smaller in-region public university alumni association co-located with UND in the Red River Valley — operates a similar alumni engagement and small-scale fundraising model at a smaller scale.
• Montana State University Alumni Association: Regional peer operating an alumni association + foundation model for a rural western public university with similar demographic donor-base challenges — directly comparable mission and scale.
• South Dakota State University Alumni Association: Adjacent-state public university alumni association with a similar donor pool profile and operating model, but serving a different geography — useful for benchmarking regional alumni engagement and retention practices.

Direct peers

• University of Nebraska Alumni Association: Regional Big Ten public university alumni association with comparable scholarship, travel, events, and giving programs — directly comparable structure and donor-base profile to UNDAAF.
• Iowa State University Alumni Association: Big 12 public land-grant peer with a dedicated alumni center, donor recognition circles, travel programs, and a major capital campaign — directly comparable structure and Midwestern donor base.
• University of Wisconsin–Madison Alumni Association: Flagship public research university alumni association operating donor societies, planned giving, travel, events, and large-scale fundraising — same model as UNDAAF at a larger scale.
• University of Minnesota Alumni Association: Flagship Big Ten peer running an alumni association + foundation with extensive donor recognition programs, college-based development, travel programs, and a major ongoing capital campaign — directly comparable operating model.
• NDSU Alumni Association & Foundation (North Dakota State University): The closest in-state peer — NDSUAAF serves North Dakota State University with the same dual alumni association + foundation model, similar donor recognition societies, and a comparable fundraising scale targeting a similar North Dakota donor pool.

Others

• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): Industry association supporting alumni relations, fundraising, and communications professionals at educational institutions — directly comparable peer because it benchmarks and defines the operating standards UNDAAF follows, and serves the same institutional advancement function.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UNDAlumni
• Facebookfacebook.com/undalumni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-north-dakota-alumni-association-and-und-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/undalumni
• Xx.com/UND_Alumni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation