SIU Alumni Association

Invest in the Saluki Experience

Every Saluki story begins somewhere

Maybe it’s a scholarship that made college possible, or a mentor who opened a door; an alumnus who offered career advice, or a connection that changed the course of a life.

No matter the story, these moments happen because alumni choose to invest in the next generation of Salukis.

The SIU Alumni Association is doing its part to ensure that today's students become tomorrow's successful alumni, continuing a legacy of excellence. Through scholarships, leadership opportunities, career networking, and lifelong engagement, the Association strengthens the bond between Southern Illinois University and the people who proudly call themselves Salukis.

Supporting these efforts during this year’s SIU Day of Giving helps make that possible.

Traditions Fund

Donating to the SIU Alumni Association’s Traditions Fund provides flexible support to help the organization meet the greatest needs of students and alumni. Gifts support student scholarships, alumni engagement initiatives, signature events, student programming, and opportunities that connect generations of Salukis.

Be it welcoming new students to campus, recognizing outstanding alumni, celebrating cherished traditions, or providing financial assistance to deserving students, the Traditions Fund helps sustain a wide variety of experiences that define the SIU community.

When you give to the Traditions Fund, you invest in the entire Saluki experience, from a student's first day on campus to a lifetime of alumni pride.

Student Leadership Development Fund

Education goes well beyond the classroom.

The Student Leadership Development Fund helps bridge the gap between academic learning and professional success by connecting students with accomplished SIU alumni across a wide range of industries through the “Salukis on the Run” program.

Your support creates opportunities for students to participate in networking events, career treks, mentoring experiences, leadership programs, employer visits, and hands-on learning that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom.

These experiences help students build confidence, expand their professional networks, and discover what is possible after graduation. Just as importantly, they strengthen the tradition of Salukis helping Salukis.

Every connection made today becomes an opportunity tomorrow.

Your Impact

Every gift, regardless of size, is an investment in students, alumni, and the future of Southern Illinois University.

Together, we can provide scholarships that ease financial burdens, create meaningful connections between students and alumni, develop future leaders, and preserve the traditions that make the SIU community unlike any other.

By giving $500 or more annually to either the Traditions Fund or the Student Leadership Development Fund, alumni will be adopted into the Maroon Crew. The Maroon Crew is a specially recognized group of SIU alumni who provide annual sustaining support for the SIU Alumni Association’s Traditions Fund and/or the Student Leadership Development Fund. The Maroon Crew helps strengthen the Association’s year-round efforts to support students, engage alumni, and build lasting connections across the Saluki community. The group is acknowledged throughout the year as valued supporters of the Alumni Association and its work on behalf of Southern Illinois University. Donations made to become part of the Maroon Crew are fully tax-deductible and count toward the university’s annual fund, as well as other elevated giving societies, like the Chancellor’s Circle.