Beyond the prize: How to build a thriving alumni network for awardees

Handing out prizes to award winners doesn’t have to mean goodbye. There’s a valuable opportunity to stay connected to your awardees and expand the impact of your awards program in the post-award period. 

One way to maximise this opportunity is by establishing a robust and engaging alumni network for your awardees.   

What is an alumni network?

An alumni network is a community of former participants, members or beneficiaries of an organisation, institution or program who stay connected after their direct involvement has come to an end. In the context of awards programs, an alumni network of awardees means a community of past award winners that connects the awardees to the program after competition. 

It aims to keep the community of excellence thriving long after the prize has been handed out, transforming the original act of recognition into a long-term, impactful platform and legacy.

Some of the biggest alumni networks include:

• The Fulbright Program, which has over 400,000 alumni—called Fulbrighters—worldwide
• Chevening Scholarship, which has over 60,000 alumni as of last year
• Stamps Scholars, a program with more than 1,100 alumni globally     

Benefits of an alumni network

Alumni networks can be incredibly important to awards programs, awardees and program partners, especially in that they strengthen your awards brand by keeping it relevant beyond the award cycle. 

Your alumni can function as judges, ambassadors or mentors for new participants, creating a cycle of excellence and ensuring the continuity of your program. Awardees can enjoy continued visibility, credibility and relevance long after their award year, thanks to alumni networks. 

And, program sponsors and partners benefit from their names and brands being associated with the long-term success stories of awardees.   

How to build and leverage a strong alumni network

1. Communicate the alumni networking opportunity

Building a strong alumni network involves making early plans for alumni network management. It’s helpful to develop a clear and recognisable alumni brand in the form of a name, logo or tagline; this can create a sense of shared identity and pride. 

Consider providing dedicated platforms where your awardees can connect, collaborate and share updates. Slack or Discord groups are excellent starting points. 

Following the announcement of winners, awardees are enthusiastic, emotionally invested in the recognition and open to future opportunities. It’s the perfect opportunity to introduce the idea of an alumni network to them, signalling the award as the beginning of an ongoing journey and highlighting their achievement as a connection to a broader community.    

2. Team up with your awardees

Collaborating with your winners is essential to building an alumni network because it fosters a sense of ownership. Fostering engagement and nurturing relationships with them can help design support that meets real needs. 

To effectively engage and collaborate with your awardees, consider hosting regular alumni events. You can match new awardees with past winners for mentorship or invite alumni to webinars, panels or workshops to share their journeys and expertise.   

3. Offer lasting benefits to your awardees

Providing long-term value keeps your alumni network relevant, facilitating participation among awardees and making it more attractive to future award applicants. This act of giving back to awardees can strengthen their trust and loyalty to the community.  

Giving alumni access to exclusive training and resources is a good way to support their professional development. Visibility and media exposure validate their achievement and build personal credibility; consider featuring them in thought leadership opportunities.  

Open doors for them by facilitating career and business connections with your sponsors and partners. 

4. Invite their contributions and feedback

The strength of an alumni network for awardees often lies in what each member is willing to give back. Encourage your alumni to make contributions. They can serve as mentors, ambassadors, sponsors and judges for your awards program. 

Champion alumni-led initiatives and projects under your award program’s name. Also, ask them for suggestions on how to enhance the awards program and the alumni network.     

5. Celebrate your alumni

Fan the flame of excellence by recognising your alumni. Spotlight stories of their recent accomplishment in newsletters, across your social channels and on your website. Consider offering exclusive awards to those who play exceptional roles and make impressive contributions.

The end of an awards cycle is a great time to foster a brimming community of award winners. These steps will ensure you build a flourishing alumni network for your awardees.