Up with People International Alumni Association

What Up with People International Alumni Association does

Up with People International Alumni Association (UWPIAA) is a Denver-based nonprofit alumni association founded in 1988 that serves former cast and crew members of the Up with People international youth performance and service program, whose alumni span 1965 to 2023 across more than 20 countries. UWPIAA is governed by a volunteer Board of Governors and operates with approximately 12 staff, delivering a portfolio of community-anchored programs rather than technology products. Its core offering is the Annual Alumni Week (AAW), a multi-day reunion hosted at rotating international venues — the 2025 edition in Limerick drew more than 400 attendees from 21 countries and was supported by 60+ alumni volunteers from 13 countries — supplemented by the European Alumni Meeting, regional gatherings (e.g., Florida Sunshine Spree), the Legacy Programme for ages 7–20, a mentoring program, the UpBeat newsletter, a YouTube channel, and an annual awards program. World Singing Day, a global initiative founded by a UWP alumnus, extends the association's brand reach into 16 countries and 60+ cities.

UWPIAA's underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight: a WordPress website (uwpiaa.org) with Akismet spam protection, idloom for AAW event registration and ticketing, JotForm for regional event registration, Zoom for virtual connector meetings and study groups, and WhatsApp broadcast groups for in-event attendee coordination. There are no proprietary AI, data, or platform systems disclosed. Distribution is direct-to-alumni via the website, email newsletter, social media, and a global network of connector representatives and local clubs, with no channel intermediaries.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure. UWPIAA generates revenue through Annual Alumni Week registration fees (with tiered options for full-week, partial-week, and Legacy add-ons), contracted accommodation bookings at University of Limerick campus apartments and partner hotels (Castletroy Park Hotel, Strand Hotel), paid cultural and experiential add-ons (Ultimate Irish Music & Pub Crawl at €720/person, golf at €198, whiskey tastings at €25, brewery visits at €21, afternoon tea at €39–45), Legacy Program fees (Legacy in Action at €840/person), regional event fees, and donations accepted through the website. Pricing is per-event with multi-tier refundable and non-refundable policies, and the underlying program (Up with People itself) concluded in 2023, meaning the alumni population is fixed and naturally aging — a structural demand-side constraint.

Name

Up with People International Alumni Association

Legal name

Up with People International Alumni Association

Website

https://uwpiaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alumni Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Alumni Relations & Alumni Engagement Programs (EDALAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alumni Events, Reunions & Regional Chapters (EDALAOAG), Alumni Communications, Marketing & Publications (EDALAOAF), Volunteer Management & Alumni Leadership Programs (EDALAOAH), Alumni, Reunion & Affinity Group Educational Travel (THAKAGAJ)

Keywords

• Alumni association services
• Nonprofit community programs
• Member event management
• Alumni networking events
• Mentoring programs

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: UWPIAA generates revenue through event registration fees for Annual Alumni Week, day trips, small-group experiences, and other paid activities. Registration fees cover various tiers and optional add-ons.
2. Accommodation Bookings: Revenue from on-campus apartment reservations and contracted hotel rates (Castletroy Park Hotel, Strand Hotel) at Annual Alumni Week.
3. Cultural & Experiential Activities: Fees for paid add-on experiences such as the Ultimate Irish Music & Pub Crawl (€720 per person), golf outings, whiskey tastings, and afternoon teas.
4. Donations: The association accepts donations through its website, supporting the alumni community and related programs.
5. Legacy Program Fees: Fees for Legacy Xperience (ages 7–17) and Legacy in Action (ages 18–20) youth programs held during Annual Alumni Week.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Up with People International Alumni Association is a nonprofit membership association that serves former cast members and participants of the Up with People global performance and educational program. It sells event-based engagement products — primarily its annual Alumni Week, regional and European meetings, a Legacy Programme, and a Mentoring Program — funded through registration fees, accommodation bookings, add-on experiences, and donations.

Product overview

Up with People International Alumni Association operates as a membership-based alumni organization offering a portfolio of programs centered on reunion events, professional development, and youth engagement. The core product is the Annual Alumni Week, a multi-day gathering at the University of Limerick featuring sessions, performances, day trips, and awards. Supporting products include the Legacy Programme (with Legacy Xperience and Legacy in Action tracks for ages 7-20), the Mentoring Program for professional development, regional events like the European Alumni Meeting and Florida Sunshine Spree, the UpBeat newsletter, and add-on experiences such as the Irish Music & Pub Crawl and Belfast Study Group. The YouTube Channel and Awards Program round out the offering for community engagement and recognition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Alumni Week Multi-day annual reunion event for Up with People alumni featuring performances, social activities, and community programming; sold to individual alumni members via registration fees and accommodation packages.
• Legacy Programme Heritage and legacy initiative focused on preserving the Up with People traditions, history, and community continuity for alumni members.
• European Alumni Meetings Regional reunion events held in Europe for Up with People alumni based in or visiting European locations; sold via event registration fees.
• Mentoring Program Structured mentoring offering that connects longer-tenured Up with People alumni with newer alumni members for guidance and community engagement.
• Regional Alumni Events Localized in-person alumni gatherings held in various regions to maintain community engagement between the larger flagship events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ alumni attended AAW 2025 in Limerick from 21 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of LimerickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Limerick is the primary venue for Annual Alumni Week, providing campus facilities including accommodation (Dromroe Village apartments), the Concert Hall for performances, dining venues, and fitness facilities. This partnership enables the in-person delivery of AAW programming to hundreds of alumni.
• Castletroy Park HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted hotel partner for AAW 2026, offering special alumni week rates for attendees. Located across from the university campus, it offers single, double, and triple occupancy rooms with breakfast included.
• Strand HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted hotel partner for AAW 2026, located in Limerick city centre on the River Shannon. Offers special alumni week rates for attendees.
• Milford Care CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA local hospice and care center (not-for-profit, registered charity) that is the beneficiary of the UWPIAA Memorial Tree program. Also hosts community service days and the Infinity Memory Walk where alumni memorial trees are dedicated.
• Ballyneety Golf ClubminorOthersLocal golf club co-designed by Des Smyth hosting the Junior Ryder Cup in 2027. UWPIAA arranges golf days for alumni during AAW, with local alumnus Brendan Fogarty as host.
• Shane from 'Socks in the Frying Pan'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning Irish musician (Best Accordion Player 2015, Irish Music Association) and UL master's graduate in Irish Traditional Music. Hosts the Ultimate Irish Music & Pub Crawl during AAW, leveraging personal connection through an alumni alum.
• World Singing DayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal singing initiative founded in 2012 by UWP alumnus Scott Johnson ('83D). In 2026, events are planned in 16 countries and 60+ cities. UWP's 'Room for Everyone' was selected as the 2026 Song-of-the-Year.
• ROAAN (Roving Organizations Alumni Assistance Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLinked on the UWPIAA website under 'Alumni Assistance,' ROAAN provides support resources for alumni in need. UWPIAA directs alumni requiring assistance to ROAAN's contact form.
• Birr Castle & the 7th Earl of RosseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive private tour and lunch experience offered to small groups during AAW at Birr Castle, hosted by the 7th Earl and Countess of Rosse (the owners and residents).
• Treaty City BreweryminorOthersLimerick city brewery offering guided tours and tastings at a special UWPIAA rate of €21 per person during AAW.
• Ger & Rose Taxi ServiceminorOthersLocal taxi service providing personal airport transfer service from Shannon Airport for up to 8 passengers. Recommended in AAW travel information.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Experiment in International Living (World Learning) Alumni: Experiment in International Living, now part of World Learning, runs intercultural youth programs and maintains an alumni network. It is directly comparable as a nonprofit alumni association for a long-running international youth exchange program.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU) Alumni Network: YFU runs international student exchange programs with a global alumni community. Its structure of regional chapters, reunions, and volunteer-led engagement closely mirrors UWPIAA's community-led model.
• AIESEC Alumni: AIESEC is a global youth leadership organization with an active alumni network of former participants. It is comparable as a peer network serving former members of an international youth program, with regional events and professional development offerings.
• AFS Intercultural Programs Alumni: AFS is a longstanding international youth exchange organization with a global alumni network very comparable to UWPIAA — both serve former participants of cultural exchange/performance programs and run reunions, regional gatherings, and volunteer-driven events worldwide.
• People to People International Alumni: People to People International is the parent-style organization behind Up with People; its alumni network shares audience, mission, and event format with UWPIAA and represents the closest organizational peer.
• Operation Smile Alumni Network: Operation Smile's volunteer and alumni community, drawn from former participants of an international service program, parallels UWPIAA's model of organizing former program participants into a sustained community with annual events and regional chapters.
• Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Alumni: CBYX is a long-running international youth exchange program with an alumni network. Its structure of regional alumni groups, reunions, and ongoing programmatic engagement makes it comparable to UWPIAA.

Broad incumbents

• Fulbright Association: The Fulbright Association supports alumni of the Fulbright international exchange program. It is comparable in serving globally distributed alumni of an international cultural/educational exchange, though it operates at a substantially larger scale.
• Peace Corps Volunteer Network: The Peace Corps has a large, globally distributed former-volunteer network organized through regional groups and events. While larger and government-affiliated, its community-led engagement model parallels UWPIAA's volunteer-driven structure.
• Rotary Youth Exchange Alumni: Rotary's youth exchange alumni network operates at a much larger scale within a broader service organization. It is comparable in mission (international youth cultural exchange alumni engagement) but sits within a much larger parent organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeuwpiaa.org/uwpiaa-youtube-channel
• Facebookfacebook.com/uwpiaa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/up-with-people-international-alumni-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Up with People International Alumni Association