What Iowa State University Alumni Association does

The Iowa State University Alumni Association (ISUAA) is a private nonprofit organization that serves as the official alumni association for Iowa State University, headquartered at 429 Alumni Lane in Ames, Iowa. It operates a membership-based engagement platform serving former students, current students, and retirees of the university through a portfolio of programs including the Iowa Stater Magazine, an online alumni directory, career resources, awards and recognition programs, scholarships, alumni travel, and an alumni center venue rental business. Its signature in-person programs include the Cardinal & Gold Gala (600+ annual attendees), Homecoming, Reunions, Cyclone Central tailgates, Senior Week, and the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC). The organization is led by Jeff Johnson (PhD '14), Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed President and CEO.

Underlying technology is minimal: the website and member community are built on the iModules Software platform (a third-party SaaS common to university alumni associations), with no disclosed proprietary technology, APIs, or AI capabilities. Distribution combines the isualum.org website, a physical Alumni Center, the ISU Bookstore Alumni Store e-commerce storefront, and 40+ regional alumni club/game watch locations across the United States.

ISUAA monetizes through five primary streams: recurring membership dues (annual fees unlocking benefits such as Cyclone Rewards, insurance discounts, magazine access, and directory access); one-time merchandise sales including ISU Rings through Jostens (custom gold rings) and Wall of Alumni plaques at $200 each (nearly 6,000 sold to date); an affinity referral relationship with Farmers Insurance as the exclusive alumni insurance provider; travel program package revenue (e.g., the Classic Europe Graduation Trip starting at $4,496 via AESU); and transaction-based event revenue (Gala, Homecoming). Donations through the Sustaining Life Donor program and plaque processing through the Iowa State University Foundation supplement these streams. Customer segments center on alumni (primary), current students (primary), regional club members by geography, and ISU retirees.

Name

Iowa State University Alumni Association

Legal name

Iowa State University Alumni Association

Website

https://isualum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Iowa State University Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization serving ISU alumni, current students, and retirees via membership, events, scholarships, travel programs, career resources, and an alumni magazine, headquartered in Ames, Iowa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alumni Association Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

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 Benefits, Membership & Affinity Programs (EDALAOAM), Major Gifts, Planned Giving & Endowment Development (EDALAOAC)

Keywords

• Alumni association services
• Alumni membership programs
• Alumni travel programs
• Alumni event coordination
• Educational fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

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, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to benefits including career resources, regional connections, insurance products, travel programs, and alumni store discounts. Members receive the Iowa Stater Magazine and access to the online directory.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded merchandise including ISU Rings (custom solid gold rings in yellow or white gold through Jostens), Wall of Alumni plaques ($200 each), and Alumni Store products.
3. Insurance Partnership: Partnership with Farmers Insurance as exclusive provider, offering auto, home, renters, and motor sports insurance products to alumni. Revenue generated through affinity relationship supporting alumni programming.
4. Travel Programs: Travel programs including Young Alumni Travel (Classic Europe Graduation Trip starting at $4,496), general travel destinations, and group trips. Revenue from travel packages and programs.
5. Events: Event revenue from signature events including Cardinal & Gold Gala (raises money for scholarships), Homecoming celebrations, and other alumni gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Iowa State University Alumni Association serves as the official lifelong connection between Iowa State University and its alumni, current students, and friends. It sells membership programs, hosts alumni events (Cardinal & Gold Gala, Homecoming), operates group travel experiences (Traveling Cyclones), publishes the Iowa Stater magazine, manages an online alumni directory, and offers career resources, scholarships, and ISU-branded merchandise. It also administers recognition programs and student engagement initiatives such as the Student Alumni Leadership Council and Senior Week.

Product overview

The Iowa State University Alumni Association offers a membership-based platform with a comprehensive suite of programs and services designed to engage alumni throughout their lives. The core offerings include membership with benefits (Cyclone Rewards, LegaCY Club), an online alumni directory, the Iowa Stater Magazine, and career resources. The association organizes signature events including Cyclone Central tailgates, the Cardinal & Gold Gala (600+ attendees), Homecoming celebrations, and Reunions. Student engagement is facilitated through the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC) and Senior Week programming. The travel program (Traveling Cyclones) offers young alumni trips including the Classic Europe Graduation Trip. Merchandise includes ISU Rings (via Jostens), Wall of Alumni & Friends plaques, and an affinity insurance partnership with Farmers. The association also operates the Alumni Center as an event venue and maintains 40+ regional alumni clubs nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connecting Cyclones Everywhere: Official tagline of the Iowa State University Alumni Association representing the organization's mission to connect alumni globally

Products and services

• ISU Alumni Association Membership Annual paid membership tier for Iowa State University alumni and friends that unlocks the Iowa Stater magazine, online directory access, member pricing on merchandise and travel, and invitations to alumni events.
• Iowa Stater Magazine Official quarterly publication of the ISU Alumni Association distributed to members, covering alumni profiles, university news, and class notes.
• Traveling Cyclones Alumni Travel Program Curated group travel experiences for ISU alumni, including the Classic Europe Graduation Trip and other international and domestic itineraries managed by the Association's Travel Programs team.
• Classic Europe Graduation Trip Multi-day packaged European graduation trip sold to ISU students and alumni as part of the Traveling Cyclones travel program.
• Cyclone Central Merchandise Retail storefront selling Iowa State University-branded apparel, gifts, and memorabilia to alumni, students, and fans.
• Cardinal & Gold Gala Signature annual ticketed alumni gala combining fundraising, networking, and recognition of distinguished alumni and supporters.
• Homecoming Annual homecoming celebration coordinated with the university, including alumni reunions, parade participation, and game-day events.
• Online Alumni Directory Searchable online directory that allows dues-paying members to find and connect with other Iowa State University alumni.
• Career Resources for Alumni Career support services for ISU alumni, including job-search resources, networking, and professional development offerings.
• Wall of Alumni & Friends Tribute program that allows donors to inscribe the name of an alumnus or friend on the Alumni Center wall in exchange for a $200 contribution.
• Alumni Center Venue Rental Rental of the ISU Alumni Center for private events, meetings, and university functions.
• ISU Alumni Insurance Program Affinity insurance program offered to alumni in partnership with Farmers Insurance.
• ISU Ring (Jostens Partnership) Official ISU class ring sold through a Jostens partnership, available to alumni and current students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 6,000 Iowa Staters recognized on Wall of Alumni and Friends

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Farmers InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term agreement making Farmers Insurance the exclusive insurance provider for Cyclones everywhere. Offers auto, home, renters, and motor sports insurance products to alumni. Investment with Farmers helps support alumni groups, free career resources, student organization funding, and networking opportunities. Contact: Shellie Andersen, executive director of travel programs.
• AESUcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel partner for Young Alumni Travel programs including the Classic Europe Graduation Trip. AESU coordinates travel logistics for young alumni (ages 22-34) seeking adventure travel experiences.
• JostenscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial provider of ISU Rings through Jostens. Students and alumni may order custom-made solid gold rings in yellow or white gold with optional engraving. Interest-free monthly installment plan available through Milestone Traditions.
• iModules SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware platform provider for the ISUAA website and member community management system. iModules licenses the online community platform and provides privacy policy compliance including U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework adherence.
• Ameriprise FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services relationship mentioned in footer. Additional information available about Iowa State University Alumni Association's relationship with Ameriprise Financial.
• Milestone TraditionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier providing interest-free monthly installment plan for ISU Ring purchases.
• Iowa State University FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProcesses payments for Wall of Alumni plaques and ensures proper credit toward lifetime giving to Iowa State University. Plaque purchases are tax deductible through the Foundation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Nebraska Alumni Association: Alumni association serving University of Nebraska graduates with membership, regional clubs, events, and scholarship programs. Big Ten/regional peer operating a similar engagement model.
• University of Iowa Alumni Association: Official alumni association of the University of Iowa, providing membership, regional events, scholarships, and travel programs. In-state Big Ten peer with near-identical operating model and revenue structure.
• University of Illinois Alumni Association: Alumni association serving University of Illinois graduates with membership, regional clubs, affinity programs, and student engagement. Big Ten peer operating a similar comprehensive programming model.
• Texas A&M Association of Former Students: Official alumni association for Texas A&M University, operating membership, regional clubs, scholarships, and signature events for a large alumni base. Comparable in scope, though larger in scale than ISUAA.
• University of Minnesota Alumni Association: Official alumni association for the University of Minnesota offering membership, regional networks, travel, scholarships, and student programs. Big Ten peer with comparable institutional scale and programming mix.
• Purdue Alumni Association: Official alumni association of Purdue University, operating membership programs, regional clubs, scholarships, and signature events for a comparable Big Ten university alumni base. Highly comparable in scale, programming mix, and structure to ISUAA.
• Michigan State University Alumni Association: Alumni association for Michigan State University offering membership, regional clubs, scholarships, and signature events. Direct Big Ten peer with similar scale and programming emphasis on athletics-driven engagement.
• University of Wisconsin Alumni Association: Official alumni association of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, running membership programs, regional networks, travel, and donor-funded scholarships. Big Ten peer with comparable alumni scale and programming depth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/isualum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/isualumniassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/isualum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-state-university-alumni-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/isualum
• Pinterestpinterest.com/isualum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Iowa State University Alumni Association