Our Mission

The mission of the Alumni Association-International is to support the educational institutions in the University System of Maryland, principally through grants to alumni organizations to encourage greater participation of alumni and through undergraduate scholarships to promote academic achievement.

Alumni Association - International, Inc. has three main goal

• to provide educational opportunities

• to grow the individual school's alumni associations

• to protect the assets built up from the history of the associations.

GRANTS

Promoting alumni growth and participation

It is an inherent attribute to become connected and stay connected to others.  We look to our friends, family and colleagues to support and encourage us through all phases of life. AA-I believes that through alumni associations people find a forum to make new friends and business relationships.  That is why it is a part of their mission to foster the growth of the USM campus alumni associations.  Through grants awarded each year, AA-I helps increase the role alumni associations play in the lives of students and graduates.  Grants are awarded to the appropriate office that oversees alumni programs on each respective campus yearly without the call for proposals. It is left to the discretion of each campus entity to determine how the funds will be distributed or the programs it should be applied based on the Criteria and Guidelines set forth by AA-I. A report will be required by June 30 of each year for the previous year’s award. The report should states how the funds were used and outcomes of the program or event. In accordance with the Criteria and Guidelines, any alumni association with outstanding grant reports are ineligible to receive the current year award.

GRANT CRITERIA & GUIDELINES

Eligible Participants:

Applicants must be a 501(c) (3) alumni organization of a degree granting institution within the University System of Maryland (USM), committed to organizing or supporting alumni organizations to include national and regional alumni associations and affiliates (chapters, societies, clubs, etc.).

 Purpose/Benefits of Grant:

To fund programs which benefit, support and strengthen alumni organizations within the University System of Maryland. Each grant needs to meet one or more of the following items.

• Ability to strengthen the alumni base, increasing participation and fostering communication among alumni

• Originality – is this something new and original for this institution

• Growth – what is the impact to the alumni base? What is the percentage of alumni that will be served? How will this help position the alumni association for the future?

• Communications – how will the grant help provide information to the alumni?

• Project Evaluation – provide information for projected expenditures (A budget template with formulas is provided for your convenience)

• Explain how success will be measured.

• 25% of funds may be used towards Honorariums, travel expenses, alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages and food.

GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY and COMPLIANCE:

Written reports are due June 30 of the following year after award is given. Grant report procedures are sent to the receiving alumni organization with the notice of the grant award. Failure to comply with the grant report procedures will result in the alumni organization being ineligible for future grant award cycles until the appropriate grant report is received by AA-I.

 Scholarships

Helping Undergraduates dreams come true

AA-I believes a solid education can contribute to making all students great leaders.  That is why it is a major function of AA-I to provide undergraduate scholarships.  The scholarship funds are determined each year and voted upon by the Executive Committee based on market performance of investments.  AA-I acts solely as the administrator of the funds.  Each USM Financial Aid Office is responsible for the selection based on the Criteria & Guidelines set forth by the Executive Committee of AA-I.  The scholarship is awarded each year in the spring for the next school year.  The deadline to apply will vary from campus to campus but tend to be in early part of the calendar year. Please contact your campus’ Financial Aid Office for more information on application deadlines.

Student should send their applications to the Financial Aid Office of the campus they are applying to or currently attending. The application should include the following: 

• Scholarship Application

• Written Summary (campus required essay is satisfactory)

• Transcript

Campuses must submit their selections by May 1 of each calendar year. (NOTE to STUDENTS: each campus will have their own deadline for submission. Please contact them directly for this information). Funds will be distributed in mid August directly to the each campus for the fall semester. Spring funds will begin getting disbursed in mid January. However they are dependent upon each Financial Aid Office’s timeliness in providing updated GPA and enrollment status of recipient(s).

Campuses and students will be notified once verification of all information has been made by AA-I administrator. All should expect to hear from AA-I by mid June.

Question about each campuses’ process of selection should be directed to the Financial Aid Office of that campus.

Scholarship Program Criteria & Guidelines

Scholarship Application