Purdue Alumni Association  //  President’s Council  //  John Purdue Club
Search
Close this search box.

About Us

The Purdue for Life Foundation helps people who love Purdue stay connected, get involved, and give back.

Purdue for Life—created in 2020 by uniting the Purdue Alumni Association and the University Development Office—drives and coordinates all alumni-related activities across the Purdue family’s post-graduation lives and works with alumni, friends, and fans to garner support for the institution.

The work of our foundation is guided by our strategic plan.

You can get involved in a variety of ways—including through a region-based club, an affinity network, volunteering and mentoring opportunities, alumni living, travel, and lifelong learning. You can also join the Purdue Alumni Association, President’s Council, the John Purdue Club, the brand-new Purdue Parents & Families Club, and Purdue Alumni Student Experience.

Want an inside look at Purdue for Life? Tune in as Matt Folk, president and CEO of the foundation, shares his views on Boilermaker spirit and community during a recent installment of the university’s award-winning This Is Purdue podcast.

Dauch Alumni Center

DAUCH ALUMNI CENTER

The Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center, located two blocks south of the Purdue Memorial Union on the university’s flagship campus, is the home of the Purdue for Life Foundation.

Named for Richard (M’64, HDR M’99) and Sandy Dauch, who contributed $3 million toward its construction, the center opened in 2004 as both an alumni hub and a place where Purdue could showcase its many achievements. Visitors are welcome, and free parking is available during your visit to the building. Attractions include:
  • Memorabilia displays
  • Boilermaker Special replica
  • Purdue space exploration exhibit
  • Library, banquet hall, and other gathering spaces
The Dauch Alumni Center is located at 403 West Wood Street in West Lafayette, Indiana, and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 765-494-2727.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Created in 2020 by uniting the Purdue Alumni Association and the University Development Office, Purdue for Life drives and coordinates all alumni-related activities across the Purdue family’s post-graduation lives and works with alumni, friends, and fans to garner support for the institution. We bring together organizations you know well—including the Purdue Alumni Association, President’s Council, and the John Purdue Club—and offer many more engagement opportunities.

The organization is an independent LLC that resides within the Purdue Research Foundation. To learn how the Purdue for Life Foundation is funded, click here.

The Purdue for Life Foundation has a dedicated online portal, where alumni, donors, and fans can access the following resources and more:

  • Ability to update your communications preferences
  • Giving history and tax receipts
  • John Purdue Club and Purdue Convocations points
  • Ability to update your contact information (see My Profile)
  • Events registration
  • Purdue Alumni membership benefits
  • Alumni and retiree directories

Sign in to see how you can stay connected through the Purdue for Life portal!

The name “Purdue for Life” reflects our mission to deliver the benefits of Purdue University—including education, enrichment activities, travel, and on-campus residential opportunities—to alumni and friends throughout their lifetime, while also working to garner support for the university. Following an integrated model, the Purdue for Life Foundation is designed to improve engagement and communication by aligning fundraising and stewardship activities across campus and with alumni and friends.

No, the Purdue Alumni Association continues as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and will continue its 145-plus-year tradition of serving alumni.

The Purdue Alumni Association and the Purdue for Life Foundation have formed an ongoing agreement in which Purdue for Life provides alumni engagement services for the university. Therefore, the Purdue Alumni Association has transferred its staff and certain assets to Purdue for Life to support alumni engagement activities and to provide Purdue Alumni Association members with membership benefits.

The Purdue Alumni Association’s ongoing responsibilities include:

  • Ensuring that Purdue for Life continues to carry out the alumni engagement mission for the university under agreed-upon terms.
  • Selecting three alumni trustees for the Purdue University Board of Trustees in accordance with Indiana law via electing directors to the Purdue Alumni Association Board.
  • Appointing the Purdue Alumni Association representative to the Purdue for Life Board of Managers.
  • Appointing the members of the Purdue for Life Alumni Advisory Council.
  • Providing oversight of the Purdue Alumni Association investment account.

No, President’s Council continues as an organization for those who give $1,000 or more annually to Purdue University. President’s Council is part of the Purdue for Life Foundation.

Purdue for Life Foundation President's Council

No, the John Purdue Club continues as an organization for those who give $200 or more annually to Purdue Athletics. The John Purdue Club is part of the Purdue for Life Foundation.

Purdue for Life Foundation John Purdue Club

Your Purdue Alumni Association membership is still active. You can access membership benefits through the Purdue for Life portal.

Yes! Membership in the Purdue Alumni Association will be provided at two levels—Annual and Life—and administered through the Purdue for Life Foundation. Learn more!

If you’re a graduate, friend, student, family member of a student, or simply a fan of Purdue University, congratulations—you’re already part of the Purdue for Life Foundation! There is no membership in, or fee to join, Purdue for Life.

That said, philanthropic giving toward Purdue Athletics can place you in the John Purdue Club, and annual giving of $1,000 or more to Purdue qualifies you for membership in President’s Council. Donors who have given three years consecutively to the university, at any level, are part of the Griffin Society, and those who have left a gift to Purdue in their estate planning are members of the R.B. Stewart Society.

Yes, your generous contributions flow exactly as they always have.

Matt Folk, a 1991 Purdue electrical engineering graduate, is Purdue’s vice president for university advancement and alumni engagement and the president and CEO of the Purdue for Life Foundation. Folk recently retired as president and CEO of a firm specializing in the sales and marketing of semiconductor and electromechanical components. Additionally, Folk has been president of the Boiler Business Exchange in Indianapolis for many years, has been very active in all aspects of alumni engagement across campus, and was the Purdue for Life committee chairman.

Jillian Henry is vice president for engagement for the Purdue for Life Foundation. In that role, she leads alumni engagement for Purdue.

Greg Kapp is vice president for development for the Purdue for Life Foundation. In that role, he leads fundraising and stewardship for Purdue.

View all Purdue for Life senior leadership.

Purdue for Life President and CEO Matt Folk reports to a five-member board of managers that includes President Mung Chiang, three members of the Purdue University Board of Trustees, and one member of the Purdue Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Search