Getting Generation Y Involved

• Young alumni are your best audience for new volunteers. They have the time, and it will help to build their resume.
• Getting young alumni involved with your chapter will also keep events from becoming stale (same faces always showing up, year after year).
• Young alums will help your chapter become better connected with students.

• Young alums are competitive, offer them an opportunity that they can be the best at.
• Have them be experts, have them keep in contact with future Badgers and current students.
• They like social and business networking, these events will catch their attention.
• Offer mentoring, either with other alums or future Badgers.
• Read our general tips on recruiting volunteers.

• Pull a list of the young alumni in your chapter area.
• Ask a young alum to serve on your board. They’ll be able to help you attract their friends to the chapter.
• Recent grads can’t live without e-mail, so send them e-vites to your events. The best time to send a broadcast message is Tuesday through Thursday, because many people let the mail pile up in their inbox over the weekend.
• Host an event that would appeal to young alumni, like a social hour. Then ask what kind of events they’d like to see happen with your chapter. If there’s enough interest, establish a Young Alumni Committee.
• They’re more likely to attend a chapter event if it’s affordable (under $25) and takes place after work, not during the workday or weekend. Encourage them to bring a friend or offer a discount on admission.
• Young alumni like less structured events and they come to meet people. Make sure no one feels left out by making the rounds and getting people talking.
• Make sure to thank them for showing up. You can use this time to promote other chapter events or opportunities for their involvement.
• Don’t get stuck doing the same old thing. You’ll lose their interest. Host a variety of events including social networking (e.g. game-watch parties, happy hours), professional development (e.g., speed networking, career dinner) and community service opportunities (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids’ Sake).
• Young alumni are more likely to go to your events if they seem like fun. Show them what a blast they’re missing by using recent photos in your marketing and keeping your Web site up-to-date. You could also co-sponsor an event with a local organization that attracts a younger crowd.
• Word of mouth works. If young grads attend an event and have a good time, they’ll tell others (think of it as free marketing). But if they have a bad time, they’ll spread the word about that, too, and other young grads will avoid you like the flu..

• Free Stuff! Organize a raffle or door prize drawing at young alumni events. Often the event venue will donate a gift certificate to give away, as this ensures repeat visits.
• Recent grads like to be treated like a “VIP.” Offer reserved seating, sneak-peeks, behind-the-scenes tours and come early/stay late events to make them feel like they have exclusive access to something special.
• They may want to be involved in the organization, but they don’t want a long-term commitment.
• Send an e-mail reminder a few days before your event. Young alumni don’t generally plan long-term, so if you’ve sent your invite out a month in advance, they’ve probably already forgotten about it.
• Follow up afterwards by sending a personal thank you for their attendance or e-mail them to invite them to the next event.
• If the owner or manager of the event venue is a UW graduate, use that to your advantage. Young alumni like to know they’re in the company of Badgers.
• Young alumni like to be know-it-alls. Invite them to be “campus experts” at your next student sendoff. After all, a lot of people discount recent grads for their age, but current students look up to them.
• Viral marketing is something they’re used to, and word-of-mouth is a powerful tool for your chapter.
• If there will be drink specials offered at game-watching parties or other social gatherings, make sure to advertise that to younger alumni. They like to save a buck.

Alloy Media & Marketing, the country’s largest provider of nontraditional media and marketing services, offers several suggestions on how to reach the college-age or recent graduate audience.

Read the suggestions here.