Stanford Alumni Association’s VolCon is a reimagined two-day volunteer conference offering stewardship experiences, role-specific training, and opportunities for networking. This consolidated volunteer experience replaced multiple standalone events and was developed in response to budget cuts and a desire to create more community and a stronger volunteer leadership pipeline. The inaugural SAA VolCon, held February 7-8, 2025, welcomed about 150 alumni volunteers from three programs: club leaders, reunion leaders, and class correspondents (responsible for STANFORD Magazine class notes). Day one included universal programming, uniting all attendees for faculty and administration speakers, entertainment, networking, and idea-sharing. Day two focused on training specific cohorts, allowing volunteers to hear from staff and each other. Reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with a record Net Promoter Score of 83. Volunteers embraced the opportunity to connect with peers, explore new ideas, and re-engage with Stanford. The event allowed SAA to consolidate staff time and resources, and it generated excitement among our alumni volunteers.
From the Judges
SAA VolCon is a highly effective model for volunteer engagement and training. Notable was the program’s creative and immersive approach to bringing together diverse volunteers, fostering stronger connections across generations and deepening commitment to the institution. The initiative efficiently used resources, gave thoughtful consolidation to training efforts, and provided strong potential for replication at other institutions. Judges also noted the event’s success in strengthening future donor affinity through a shared sense of purpose and community.
