Academic Partner Grants Program
Grant Application Process and Eligibility
For FY27, grant applications will open May 1, 2026.
Units will be asked to confirm that they want their “base” allocation and indicate the amount of supplemental funding they are requesting. Units may submit one application that includes multiple programs, events, or projects.
Application Criteria
The IUAA activates and supports the global alumni network – encouraging alumni to grow a lifelong connection with Indiana University and inspiring their ongoing generosity toward each other and IU. Our work supporting and engaging alumni embraces the core values of the IUAA:
- Collaboration: We work together to achieve common goals.
- Commitment: We serve each other, our alumni, and the university with professionalism and integrity.
- Inclusion: We work to create an inclusive culture that is committed to diversity, belonging, and equity.
- Pride: We share and celebrate the best of the past, present, and future of IU.
In addition to supporting our core values as listed, we encourage units to embrace the following IUAA priorities when developing successful alumni engagement programming:
- Cultivate Belonging and Build Sustainable Philanthropic Potential for the Future.
- Deepen alumni loyalty. To build the alumni community, we will learn how alumni identify with IU and each other, and then offer relevant experiences that encourage stronger commitment.
- Strengthen alumni relations across IU. We will collaborate with IU stakeholders and support efforts to engage more deeply with their alumni audiences.
- Collaboration across units. Events that are supported by multiple entities and appeal to multiple audiences are generally a more effective use of funds and more successful.
- Utilize multiple funding sources. Programs often serve the needs and audiences of several constituencies and warrant support from multiple funding sources. We encourage units to explore the IUAA’s Sponsorship Policy.
- Innovative approaches to alumni engagement. We encourage units to create innovative approaches—keeping programing fresh and increasing return on investment.
Funding Guidelines
Approved uses of IUAA Academic Partner Grants Program funds include event and program support such as:
- Food and beverage expenses.
- Facility rental fees.
- Audio visual expenses, including photography and videography.
- Marketing and communications, including printing, signage, invitations, and postage.
- Gifts, awards, and swag.
- Event tickets for alumni attendees.
- Keynote speakers (with a heavy consideration given to high-profile alums) including reimbursement of travel, hotel, meals and speaker fees. (Please note: The IUAA cannot prepay travel, hotel, meals, or speaker fees. Arrangements can be made to have payment available on-site if necessary. Please contact your liaison for details)
- Actual costs associated with alumni publications or newsletters, including printing and postage.
Examples of approved events and programs include:
- Alumni/student networking events in another city.
- 50th anniversary awards celebrations for alumni.
- Alumni recognition dinners.
- Alumni board meetings and associated events. (Food and beverage costs for alumni board meetings are not a recommended use of grant funds. Requests for grant funds for this use must include a compelling reason and explanation in the initial application.)
- “Welcome to” programs that engage new graduates as alumni.
- Scholarship programs.
- IU Day—an annual day of engagement, celebration, and support.
Grant funds may not be used for:
- Staff salary costs to support alumni outreach or develop publications and marketing materials.
- Staff and student travel.
- Events in which the primary purpose is fundraising.
- Alumni travel expenses for board meetings.
- Capital expenditures.
- Software, licensing agreements, or content/resources for alumni (contact your liaison for more information).
Deadlines
The Academic Partners Grants program is open on a rolling basis until all funds are awarded. While pop-up opportunities are welcome, we encourage early submissions—especially during summer planning to maximize support and event success.
Timing guidelines
- Submit at least 2 months before your event whenever possible
- Applications will be reviewed within 30 days of receipt
- Notification will follow within 14 days after a decision is made
- Event reports are due within 30 days of the event
Payments, reimbursements, and transfer of funds
- Approved funds for the Academic Partner Grant Program will be allocated directly to each unit’s IUAA Project ID.
- Funds may be paid for goods and services directly with the vendor or reimbursement to an individual or university account. We encourage you to arrange payment via your liaison on their IUAA credit card.
- IUAA grant funds must only be used to pay for approved expenses.
Reporting
- All programs awarded a grant will have the option of participating in the satisfaction survey initiative. Units will work with the IUAA to conduct satisfaction surveys within two days following a grant funded program or event. An Excel list of attendees with columns for Crimson ID, first name, last name, and email address – in that order – is required to be submitted to alum@iu.edu the following business day after the program occurs.
- Within 30 days following the event, program, or project, units should report on the program(s) that were funded during the year.
Application FAQs
The application for the grant is available online. A downloadable application is also available to allow for offline work. Only online applications submitted using the provided form will be accepted.
Each academic unit should apply for their portion of funding on a collaborative event. Schools are encouraged to work jointly on the application and submit identical information.
IUAA has committed $123,500 in total to support Academic Partner alumni engagement through the grant program. While the overall funding amount remains unchanged, the revised funding model expands access to grant dollars for all CSU partners by shifting from fixed allocations and capped requests to a more flexible, shared grant pool.
Under this model, funding is no longer divided into separate annual and rolling grant caps. Instead, eligible CSU partners may apply for grant support throughout the year, with requests reviewed on a first‑come, first‑served basis and with an emphasis on responsible stewardship to ensure funding remains available across the network.
This approach is intended to make more grant funding accessible to more partners, align funding with engagement needs, and better support a wide range of alumni programming across IU.
Events and programs that support alumni engagement, such as:
- Alumni/student networking event in another city.
- 50th anniversary alumni awards celebration on campus.
- Alumni recognition dinner.
- Alumni board meetings and associated events.
- “Welcome to” programs that engage new graduates as alumni.
- Scholarship programs.
- IU Day.
- Food and beverages.
- Facility rental fees.
- Virtual engagement events and related services.
- Audio/visual expenses, including photograph and videography.
- Facility and equipment setup fees.
- Marketing and communications efforts including printing, signage, invitations, and postage.
- Gifts, awards, and other IU swag.
- Event tickets for alumni attendees.
- Staff salary costs to support alumni outreach or development of publications and marketing materials.
- Staff and/or student travel.
- Events in which the primary purpose is fundraising.
- Alumni travel expenses for board meetings.
- Capital expenditures.
- Software or licensing agreements for content and other resources.
- Food and beverage service for alumni board meetings are not a recommended use of IUAA grant funds. Requests for grant funds for this use must include a compelling reason and explanation in the application.
The evaluation committee will review applications and notifications will be sent within 30 days of submission.
You will be notified if there is further information needed or if there are questions about your application. The committee will provide a reason if the grant is not approved.
All events and programs supported by the Academic Partner Grant may participate in an IUAA satisfaction survey. Your satisfaction will be available to you 30 days post-event.
- Overall, how satisfied are you with your recent IUAA experience/event? (0-10 score)
- What are the primary reasons for the score you gave? (open ended)
A list of attendees, along with their contact data (specifically email address), is required to be submitted to your liaison the following business day after the program occurs.
In addition to the satisfaction survey, units should report on program(s) that were funded during the year. Reports are to be submitted 30 days following the program/event.
We encourage schools to utilize non-IUAA funding sources when budgeting and planning for their fiscal year.
IUAA funding is one piece of the overall alumni engagement budgets and we encourage schools to consider multiple sources of funding and collaboration with other schools, units, and alumni communities. Securing additional funding sources provides evidence there is additional “buy-in” from other partners and funders.
To simplify the experience for our partners, we have merged the previously separate Annual and Rolling grant lines into a single, consolidated supplemental grant pool. Our new Academic Grant Application is designed to be inclusive of a "rolling basis," meaning you no longer have to wait for specific windows or use different forms for unexpected needs. You can now use this single, streamlined form at any time during the fiscal year to request additional funding for both planned events and new opportunities. These requests are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual funding pool is exhausted, providing you with maximum flexibility to apply whenever your programming needs arise.
No. A change in your base allocation does not mean you need to reduce or eliminate alumni programming.
The base allocation is intended to provide baseline, foundational support for alumni engagement, but it is no longer the sole or primary funding source for programming. Under the updated funding model, academic partners have expanded access to grant funding to support meaningful alumni programs throughout the year.
The grant program is designed to provide flexibility, allowing units to request additional support aligned with their program scale, goals, and alumni engagement impact.
Units are encouraged to plan programming based on their engagement strategy, not solely on the base allocation amount, and to work with their IUAA liaison to determine the best funding approach for their programs.
During the first year of the revised funding model, there is no set cap on the amount a unit may request.
Requests will be reviewed with the understanding that funding operates on a first‑come, first‑served basis within a shared pool. IUAA will be thoughtful and fiscally responsible when reviewing applications to ensure funding remains available to support alumni engagement across the university throughout the year.
Units are encouraged to submit reasonable, well‑scoped requests that align with their program goals and anticipated impact, and to work closely with their IUAA liaison when developing applications. As we learn together during this initial year of the model, funding decisions will prioritize alignment, impact, and responsible use of shared resources.
The Academic Partner Grant program is intended for programming that you can reasonably expect will happen as planned. If you would like to discuss your programming strategy, please contact Kim Merritt at kdmerrit@iu.edu.
Units are encouraged to use existing fund balances alongside grant awards and partnerships to support alumni programming. Fund balances do not prevent a unit from receiving grant funding; however, applications will be reviewed with consideration for overall need, planned use of funds, and responsible stewardship of shared resources.
Questions?
Contact Kim Merritt at kdmerrit@iu.edu for more information.