KU Alumni Association

What KU Alumni Association does

KU Alumni Association is an independent nonprofit organization headquartered at the Jayhawk Welcome Center, Adams Alumni Center, 1266 Oread Ave., Lawrence, Kansas, serving the global University of Kansas alumni community of more than 400,000 graduates and supporters. The organization delivers a five-pillar program portfolio: (1) Career & Professional Development through the Jayhawk Career Network and its sub-modules — KU Mentoring+, Mocktails & Mingle networking events, The Water Cooler newsletter, the Alumni Job Board, and the Hire Jayhawks portal (4,000+ monthly job listings, 7,000+ alumni mentors, 16,500+ Mentoring+ members since 2018); (2) Student Engagement via the Student Alumni Network and Student Alumni Ambassadors; (3) Community Building across 119 regional and affinity networks uniting 32,000+ alumni and 1,000+ annual events including official watch parties; (4) Advocacy & Giving via Jayhawks for Higher Education (1,600+ advocates), the Presidents Club ($1,000+/yr donors, up 300% in two years), and the multi-state Jayhawk License Plate program (Kansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, Texas); and (5) Signature Events including the annual Homecoming and Flying Jayhawks Travel.

The underlying technology stack is modest: an iModules (securelb.imodules.com) donor/alumni management platform, a native KU Alumni mobile app with 71,000+ downloads, the KU Mentoring+ online community platform coordinated with four KU academic schools plus the University Career Center, and digital properties at kualumni.org. Distribution is multi-channel — direct website, mobile app, phone (800.584.2957), the Adams Alumni Center physical venue, and third-party tour operators for the travel program.

Revenue is generated entirely on a charitable giving basis rather than membership dues following a July 1, 2025 restructuring: all financial contributions are recognized as charitable gifts (no minimum), supplemented by 12+ corporate partnerships (Truity Credit Union as flagship powering the Jayhawk Career Network, plus University of Kansas Health System, Commerce Bank, Central Bank, Farmers Insurance, Intrust Bank, Jostens, Church Hill Classics, Konica Minolta, SumnerOne, KU Bookstore, and others), recurring $50 annual Jayhawk License Plate contributions, event registrations and travel packages, and restricted-program corporate sponsorships such as ReeceNichols's 10% commission Give Back Initiative. All donations are processed and receipted by KU Endowment, the independent fundraising organization for the University of Kansas.

Name

KU Alumni Association

Legal name

KU Alumni Association

Website

https://kualumni.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KU Alumni Association is an independent nonprofit serving more than 400,000 University of Kansas alumni globally through career networking, mentorship, advocacy, donor programs, and 119 regional networks, headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alumni Association Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Alumni Relations & Alumni Engagement Programs (EDALAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student & Alumni Communities (BPAMABAK), Alumni Career Networking & Mentorship Programs (EDALAOAL), Major Gifts, Planned Giving & Endowment Development (EDALAOAC)

Keywords

• Alumni engagement services
• Alumni networking programs
• Donor recognition programs
• Career mentoring platforms
• Alumni travel programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Giving / Donations: As of July 1, 2025, KU Alumni transitioned from membership dues to recognizing all financial contributions as charitable gifts. Donors become part of Jayhawk Faithful, KU's donor recognition community. No minimum gift required for donor benefits.
2. Presidents Club Major Gifts: Recognition program for donors giving $1,000 or more annually to support creation and expansion of alumni programs. Major donor cultivation and engagement.
3. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Partnership program with 12+ corporate partners including advertising, event sponsorships, and official partner relationships. Partners include Truity Credit Union (Official Partner powering Jayhawk Career Network), University of Kansas Health System, Farmers Insurance, Commerce Bank, and others.
4. Jayhawk License Plates: Kansas specialty license plate program requiring $50 annual contribution to KU Alumni. Additional fees include state tag fees, vehicle taxes, and one-time $45.50 special plate issuance fee. Also available in Oklahoma, Maryland, and Texas.
5. Event Revenue: Revenue from signature events including Homecoming, Rock Chalk Forever, Flying Jayhawks Travel, and various networking events. Some events have registration fees while others are free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The KU Alumni Association is an independent nonprofit organization that delivers alumni engagement, career networking, mentorship, donor recognition, travel, advocacy, and community programming for more than 400,000 University of Kansas alumni, students, and supporters. Its portfolio spans the Jayhawk Career Network, KU Mentoring+, 119 regional and affinity networks, the Presidents Club major-giving program, Flying Jayhawks Travel, signature events such as Homecoming and Watch Parties, and the Jayhawk Welcome Center venue. Effective July 1, 2025, the organization phased out paid membership dues and transitioned all financial contributions to a charitable giving model recognized through KU Endowment's Jayhawk Faithful donor program.

Product overview

KU Alumni Association operates as a membership-based nonprofit offering a unified portfolio of programs and services for University of Kansas alumni, students, and supporters. The core product portfolio centers on five pillars: (1) Career & Professional Development through the Jayhawk Career Network and its sub-modules including KU Mentoring+, Mocktails & Mingle, The Water Cooler newsletter, Alumni Job Board, and Hire Jayhawks portal; (2) Student Engagement via the Student Alumni Network (SAN), Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA), and campus outreach; (3) Community Building through Regional and Affinity Networks (119 networks), Watch Parties, and special interest groups like the Jayhawk Book Club and Jayhawk Pet of the Month; (4) Advocacy & Giving including Jayhawks for Higher Education, Presidents Club donor recognition, Jayhawks Give Back service program, and the Jayhawk License Plates fundraising program; and (5) Signature Events including Homecoming, Flying Jayhawks Travel, and TGIT socials for faculty/staff. The organization also publishes Crimson & Blue Magazine and operates the Jayhawk Welcome Center as a physical venue. Effective July 1, 2025, the organization phased out its paid membership program in favor of a charitable giving model under Jayhawk Faithful donor recognition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jayhawk Career Network: Career resources, networking, mentoring, and job opportunities for KU students and alumni.
• Student Alumni Network (SAN)
• Presidents Club
• Flying Jayhawks Travel
• Jayhawk Faithful
• Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA)
• Jayhawk Book Club
• Jayhawk Pet of the Month
• KU Mentoring+
• Mocktails & Mingle
• The Water Cooler

Products and services

• Presidents Club Recognition and stewardship program for KU Alumni donors giving $1,000 or more annually, supporting creation and expansion of programs that serve alumni, students, and the university.
• Jayhawk License Plates Specialty license plate program available in Kansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, and Texas. Each plate requires an annual tax-deductible contribution to KU Alumni and supports the Jayhawk Career Network.
• Flying Jayhawks Travel Group travel program for KU graduates, students, families, and friends, offering land journeys, cruises, and customized travel packages through partner tour operators.
• Jayhawk Career Network Career services platform providing job listings, mentorship matching, networking events, webinars, career newsletter, and connections for KU students and alumni at every career stage.
• KU Mentoring+ Online networking and mentorship platform connecting KU students with alumni for career advice, long-term mentoring, flash mentoring sessions (KU Connect), and industry-based groups.
• Student Alumni Network (SAN) Free student membership program linking KU students to alumni networks, traditions, exclusive events, and university opportunities from first campus visit through graduation.
• Regional and Affinity Networks 119 regional and affinity-based alumni networks organized by geography and shared interest, connecting more than 32,000 alumni participants through local events and volunteer leadership.
• Jayhawks for Higher Education Advocacy network of more than 1,600 Jayhawks who communicate with the Kansas Legislature and policymakers about the importance of the University and higher education funding.
• Homecoming The University of Kansas annual Homecoming celebration featuring a football game, community service projects, student competitions, and alumni events that engage current students, alumni, and the Lawrence community.
• KU Alumni Mobile App Mobile application providing KU alumni with exclusive content, networking access, event information, digital membership and supporter cards, and on-the-go access to KU Alumni resources.
• Hire Jayhawks Career portal connecting KU students with employers, career services offices, faculty, and staff to support student career preparation and employer recruiting.
• Jayhawk Welcome Center The official welcome center at Adams Alumni Center in Lawrence, KS, serving as a hub for prospective undergraduate student visits, alumni events, campus tours, and program delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400,000+ Jayhawk alumni served globally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Truity Credit UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial credit union partner of KU Alumni powering the Jayhawk Career Network. Has proudly served KU students, staff, and the Lawrence community for several decades. Committed to delivering exceptional financial products and services to valued alumni. Presents Mocktails & Mingle events and sponsors Home Football Fridays & Home Hoops Tailgates.
• University of Kansas Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate Partner of KU Alumni serving as a trusted, strategic partner in advancing the mission of the University of Kansas.
• Commerce BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner offering banking services and financial products to the KU alumni community.
• Central BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner providing banking services and financial products to the KU alumni community.
• Farmers InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner offering insurance products to KU alumni and supporters.
• JostenscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner providing class rings for KU graduates. Rings capture the essence of KU and can be engraved with initials, degree and class year.
• Church Hill ClassicscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner providing diploma frames for KU graduates to celebrate their Jayhawk memories and show off their degrees.
• Konica MinoltacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner providing office technology solutions and services.
• Intrust BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner providing banking and financial services to the KU alumni community.
• SumnerOnecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner and one of the largest independent office technology dealers in the Midwest. Featured at Events Calendar sponsorship.
• KU BookstorecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCampus Partner providing official KU merchandise, books, and supplies. Offers member discounts for KU Alumni supporters.
• Love KansasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Crimson and Blue Views watch parties, supporting KU alumni gathering to watch televised games.
• Bud LightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Crimson and Blue Views watch parties, supporting KU alumni gathering to watch televised games.
• Publishing ConceptscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to produce an Oral History Publication for KU Alumni, allowing alumni to verify contact information and share their stories.
• The Farmer's DogminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting partner of Jayhawk Pet of the Month program, featuring pets showing KU spirit.
• Andrew Wymore, ReeceNicholsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered through Give Back Initiative providing 10% of commission to KU Alumni. Specializes in Greater Kansas City and Johnson County area.
• Sports & Entertainment Travel (SET)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading travel and tour management company dedicated to offering the best in fan travel experiences. Provides customized travel packages for KU alumni football and basketball away games and bowl games.
• AHI International CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel provider with over 50 years of experience creating exclusive educational programs for sophisticated alumni travelers, including river and ocean cruises and land journeys.
• Go NextcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel provider designing exclusive international travel programs sold through established organizations including alumni associations.
• Gohagan & CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel provider developing deluxe group travel programs for prestigious universities, featuring itineraries paired with world-class cruise ships, trains, and hotels.
• National WWII MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides educational travel programs for Flying Jayhawks, including Landing Beaches to Liberation tour covering WWII historical sites.
• Odysseys UnlimitedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel provider focusing on small group travel (12-24 guests) with custom-designed tours serving over 100 prestigious non-profit organizations.
• OrbridgecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel provider offering alumni travel with top accommodations and small, deluxe ships, focusing on educational travel experiences.
• KU School of BusinessflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in coordinating KU Mentoring+ platform, providing career services and connecting students and alumni through business-specific networking.
• KU School of EngineeringflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in coordinating KU Mentoring+ platform, providing career services and connecting engineering students and alumni through industry-specific networking.
• KU School of Architecture & DesignflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in coordinating KU Mentoring+ platform, providing career services and connecting architecture and design students with alumni.
• KU College of Liberal Arts & SciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in coordinating KU Mentoring+ platform, providing career services for the largest college at KU.
• KU University Career CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in career development services including Mocktails & Mingle events, Hire Jayhawks platform, and student career preparation.
• KU EndowmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProcesses all donations to the University and its affiliates including KU Alumni. Manages Jayhawk Faithful donor recognition program. Key partner in Student Alumni Network volunteer opportunities.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• iModules (by Anthology): Provider of the alumni engagement and giving platform that powers KU Alumni's securelb.imodules.com stack. Enabler/infrastructure peer across the broader university alumni CRM and donor management ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Handshake: A career-networking and recruiting platform used by universities to connect students and alumni with employers. Overlaps with KU Alumni Jayhawk Career Network on the talent marketplace and career services layer.

Direct peers

• Cornell Alumni Association: Runs a research-university alumni association with strong career-networking, regional networks, donor recognition, and affinity group programming. Peer given parallel structure and member engagement model.
• UCLA Alumni Association: Manages UCLA alumni engagement via career networking, student mentoring, regional chapters, and travel/learning experiences. Comparable because of similar public-research-university alumni base and multi-channel programming.
• University of Michigan Alumni Association: One of the largest U.S. university alumni associations serving 600,000+ alumni with regional clubs, career networking, donor recognition, and signature events. Most directly analogous in scale and program structure to KU Alumni.
• Texas Exes: The University of Texas at Austin alumni association, operating a nearly identical portfolio: regional networks, career services, donor recognition tiers, travel programs, and corporate partnerships. Direct structural and operational peer to KU Alumni.
• Stanford Alumni Association: Operates Stanford's alumni engagement program including class networks, career resources, lifelong learning, and travel. Direct structural peer across the same five-pillar service framework KU Alumni employs.
• Wisconsin Alumni Association: Operates a parallel alumni association serving Big Ten alumni with regional networks, career networking, travel, and donor programs. Directly comparable mission and product mix.
• The Ohio State University Alumni Association: Operates a comparable alumni engagement model with regional networks, career services, donor giving tiers, and travel programs. Strong peer given parallel Big 12/Big Ten positioning and similar institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/kualumniassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/kualumni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ku-alumni-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/kualumni
• Xx.com/kualumni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KU Alumni Association