1. thrive in strong communities
A diverse network
that supports & equips each other to
get things done
so that all people can
thrive in strong communities

2. Goals of Today’s Session
Introduce AmeriCorps Alums’ Mission & Work
Explore Findings from AmeriCorps Alums Corps Member Professional Development Study
Share Tools/Resources You Can Start Using Today to Improve Corps Members’ Experience and Life after AmeriCorps

3. Who & What is AmeriCorps Alums?
A diverse network that supports & equips each other to get things done so that all people can thrive in strong communities
Ben Duda & Mary Bruce
Co-Executive Directors
Ana Estrada
Chair, National Advisory Council

4. Who Are Alums? 900,000+ alumni Mostly between ages of 18-35
More racially diverse than US population
2/3 women

5. Individual Reflection:
How have you connected with AmeriCorps alumni &/or
Alums (the organization) to support your work?

7. SERVICE PIC
What I did

8. Inspiration for Our Work? I will carry this commitment with me
The AmeriCorps Pledge
I will get things done for America –
to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together
to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me
this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.
This line is our driving force – it’s why we do what we do!

9. Rachelle will soon begin her second term as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Children’s Home Society of Florida’s community outreach and engagement initiative. She was recently awarded Volunteer Florida’s Champion of Service award for her VISTA work. “trust in yourself, be patient, don’t be afraid to experiment, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. But most importantly, revel in every little victory!”

10. Rachelle will soon begin her second term as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Children’s Home Society of Florida’s community outreach and engagement initiative. She was recently awarded Volunteer Florida’s Champion of Service award for her VISTA work. “trust in yourself, be patient, don’t be afraid to experiment, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. But most importantly, revel in every little victory!”
Aileen Alon - Director of Arts & Creative Industry at Opa-locka Community Development Corporation
Brad - Program Manager at Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Morgan- teacher in public schools
Merrell – impact manager at City Year Miami

11. Research!

12. 9 in 10

13. 4 in 5

14. 1 in 3

15. More Research!

16. AmeriCorps Alums “Life After AmeriCorps” 101 Evaluation
Alums surveyed nearly 400 Corps members in 4 different programs at the beginning and end of their year of service to see the effects of connecting to the Alums’ network and resources
Members geographically divided into treatment and control groups with similar corps member demographics

17. AmeriCorps Alums P.D. Study Con’t: What the “Treatment” Group Recv’d
2 monthly newsletters
3 direct messages from program managers
3 direct messages from Alums
1 “Welcome to Alums” Webinar + 2 live/archived Webinars
All Alums’ resources (social media, jobs board, blog, discounts, etc.)

18. Study Results Corps member in treatment group more likely to:
Want to continue with another year of AmeriCorps service
Know how to use their education award
Be aware of the resources available to reach their goals
Be knowledgeable about who to turn to for career advice or support and how to discuss AmeriCorps in interviews
Report an interest in pursuing policy issues
Feel connected to a network of AmeriCorps members serving across the country
All of These Results Are Statistically Significant!

19. Partner Perspectives
“A program director told me that at first she was not really sure about this AC Alums partnership, but after seeing how easy the materials have been, and listening to the welcome webinar, they are so excited about it! One corps member said, ‘I had no idea how big the national service network was, I feel like I’m part of a bigger family now’. I thought that was pretty great.”
-Amy Porter, Program Officer Serve Wisconsin

20. Partnership Benefits - Programs
Engagement of alums is a powerful recruitment tool
Each year:
1,300 Wisconsin AmeriCorps members
75,000 AmeriCorps members nationwide
“At first some Program Directors
were not really sure about this AC Alums partnership, but after seeing how easy the materials have been, and listening to the welcome webinar, members are so excited about it! One corps member said, ‘I had no idea how big the national service network was, I feel like I’m part of a bigger family now’.”

21. Why Your Work Matters

22. Recruitment

23. Retention

24. Impact

25. Good for: YOU YOUR MEMBERS YOUR PROGRAM AMERICA!

26. Even More Research!

27. Alumni Talent & Diversity Social Sector Talent & Equity
Data Snapshot
Alumni Talent & Diversity
Social Sector Talent & Equity
1 million alums in the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps in 2019;
Alums develop key skills through service, but only 1 in 3 report they are well prepared for “life after  AmeriCorps”
45%+ of AmeriCorps Alums program participants are people of color
~4 in 5 alums work in the social sector (2 in 3 in govt / nonprofit); ~50% served in youth/education
Alums are increasingly in leadership positions in social sector
89% of nonprofit CEOs are white;
80% of board members are white
Less than 1% of nonprofit budgets are dedicated to talent development
Ineffective talent policies, practices, and mindsets disproportionately affect people of color
Racial disparities prevent organizations from achieving their greatest impact
Women & people of color are penalized for advocating equity

28. Our Strategic Direction
Build on our current work to support & equip alums &
launch a Talent and Equity Initiative
to supercharge the supply and demand of qualified,
diverse talent in purpose-driven organizations
at a time when our country needs this more than ever.

29. Pair Share:
What do you need to support corps member development – especially for corps members from populations that face (education, employment, etc.) disparities?
So Alums want to change the world, but what skills do they have for it?
Alums, and all service members, have the drive and experience to become forces for change in America

30. Life after AmeriCorps starts today!
So how do we tap the potential of our service alumni?

31. FREE

33. Our Professional Development Programs & Events
Virtual Grad School Fairs (2016 calendar online now!)
Virtual Career Fairs
Monthly Webinars
Jobs Board
Career Newsletter
LinkedIn Community
Career Coach Blogs
& Webinars
Webinar topics: How to Put AmeriCorps on Your Resume, The Effective Eli Segal Award, Smart Networking, Top 5 Spreadsheet Skills, Interviewing & Salary Negotiation Strategy

34. Webinars
30+ on Demand

35. Shout-Out to Our AmeriCorps Alum Webinar Panelists of 2015!

36. 38 College Partnerships

37. Virtual Grad School Fair – 20+ States & 50+ Fields of Study!

38. Chances to Serve Find a Volunteer Project on our Facebook App
Find a Board
Service Role
Volunteer with
a Chapter!

39. Discounts & Benefits Because You Served
Corporate & other benefits partners provide alumni resources, opportunities, discounts and support

40. Network with Us! 70+ Chapters & Growing*
*Full list at

41. Signature
Event

42. Voice Your AmeriCorps Pride During Alums’ June Graduation Celebration

43. Goals of #AmeriGrad Month
Celebrate the accomplishments of a service year with the 75,000+ Corps members graduating this year!
Connect graduating Corps members (and ALL AmeriCorps grads) to the Alums network & career supports.

44. Join Us & Lift Up the Alumni Voice!
We are a 67,000+ Social Community & Growing!
@AmeriCorpsAlums
/ ForAmeriCorpsAlums
Blog.americorpsalums.org

45. Pair Share:
One new inspiration?
One new insight?
One thing you’ll do?