Alumni mentoring as a bridge to philanthropy.

Abstract

This conceptual paper examines the philanthropic value of alumni mentorship programmes. Through the review of literature on alumni mentorship, this paper argues that participation in alumni mentoring provides a bridge to philanthropic awareness and giving on a corporate and individual level. Co-operative strategies between graduate employers, higher education institutions (HEIs) and alumni mentors create an environment of multiple beneficiaries to alumni mentorship. Alongside student or recent alumni mentees who benefit from career advice and mentorship, mentoring schemes normalize giving back to one’s alma mater. Alumni mentors benefit by building their own professional development and leadership skills. Industry partners, who encourage alumni to become mentors, benefit from developing mentoring and early coaching skills within their graduate employees while enhancing their corporate social responsibility (CSR) profile. HEIs also benefit by building affinity, re-engaging alumni in the institution and translating alumni engagement into support for the institutional goals. This project seeks early conceptual underpinning for a future research project to explore alumni mentorship contributing to an employment and educational environment that promotes philanthropy.