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News Release

Last modified: Thursday, August 22, 2013

IU Alumni Association bucks national trend with nine months of membership increases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 22, 2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Bucking a downward trend of most membership organizations around the country, the Indiana University Alumni Association experienced an increase in membership over the last nine months of the fiscal year that ended June 30.

At that key point, the IUAA totaled nearly 58,000 paid members, compared to about 56,500 in September 2012. The growth is a result of nine consecutive months of membership increases, which enabled the IUAA to increase revenue 10.7 percent over fiscal year 2012.

The increase challenges a 10-year trend of declining membership in the IUAA. The recent success is aligned with the association's five-year strategic plan, which outlines a renewed emphasis on membership acquisition and retention.

"This is progress that alumni from all campuses can celebrate," said J Thomas Forbes, executive director and CEO of the IUAA. "Their contributions of talent and treasure keep IU at the forefront of alumni engagement in higher education."

Marketing strategy and research played a key role in the membership growth. Research identified those alumni with the greatest potential to join, and a market segmentation strategy took generational and campus experiences into account. Direct-response marketing tactics and a renewed focus on member stewardship supported the strategy.

Continued strategic efforts project more growth over the next 12 months with a goal of another 3 percent increase in paid members by June 2014.

"IU has more alumni investing in its alumni network than we can fit in Bloomington's Memorial Stadium," Forbes said. "We use alumni dues to power a global alumni network capable of backing one another and IU throughout their lives."

More alumni involvement strengthens the IU alumni network because it enables enhanced career services, more meaningful events and stronger technological infrastructure. Membership dues also contribute to student scholarships, school and campus alumni outreach, and regional chapter activity.

The IU Alumni Association is dedicated to bringing IU alumni, students and friends together to serve one another and IU. As one of the nation's largest alumni organizations, with more than 580,000 graduates worldwide, the IUAA provides many programs and services to its members, nonmember alumni and the university.

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