Alumni Relations & Philanthropic Support

Private support of Louisiana State University is led by a consortium of three independent foundations, each with its own governing board, staff, and unique mission. In addition, many academic units of the university have volunteer development councils and “friends” groups who focus on the special interests of the units.

LSU Alumni Association

CLIFF VANNOY, President & CEO

Since its establishment in 1905, the mission of the LSU Alumni Association (LSUAA) has been to protect, promote, and foster the welfare of LSU and to create and nurture mutually beneficial relationships between the university and its alumni and former students. The association, using the talents and resources of alumni, former students, future alumni, and friends of LSU, supports the university in pursuit of excellence in its mission of teaching, research, and public service.

The LSU Alumni Association, headquartered in the Lod Cook Alumni Center, is a nonprofit organization whose members are graduates, former students, and friends of LSU. Active membership may be obtained through an annual contribution of $50 or more to the Alumni Fund. Membership benefits include a subscription to LSU Alumni Magazine and discounts at the Shelton Gift Shop, The Cook Hotel, car rentals and various national hotel chains. Members may join the Campus Federal Credit Union, and receive preferred banking offers from Bank of America and discounted insurance rates from Liberty Mutual.

Gifts generated through the Alumni Fund support the operation of the association’s programs of scholastic support such as the prestigious Alumni Professorships, departmental professorships, Rising Faculty Research Awards, Teaching Assistant Awards, and Non-Tenured Faculty Awards for faculty and President’s Alumni Scholarships, Global Leaders Scholarships, Flagship Scholarships, and International Student Scholarships for LSU’s best and brightest future alumni.

Awards for outstanding individual alumni achievement, service, and extraordinary philanthropy include induction into the LSU Hall of Distinction; LSU Alumnus of the Year, the university’s highest alumni honor; and Young Alumnus of the Year.

The association is committed to engagement, collaboration, and service for alumni, future alumni, faculty and staff, and LSU retirees. The Alumni Tiger Band Reunion, Hall of Distinction Gala, Scholars Banquet, Young Alumni Happy Hours, Chapter Leadership Summit, and LSU Retired Faculty/Staff gatherings bring alumni back to campus each year. Future alumni engagement is realized through partnerships with various university offices to sponsor dozens of activities, such as LSU On the Geaux, Bengal Bound, STRIPES, Grad Fair, LSU Ring Ceremony, Speakers: The Series, and LSU Collegiate Club. Faculty and staff are involved each semester through Partners in Progress with the University Executive Council, “Come Home, Alumni,” with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, “Come Home, Louisiana” with Louisiana Economic Development, and the Alumni Engagement Forum with the Staff Development Council.

With more than 130 alumni chapters around the world, LSU Tiger Nation is truly a global community. Chapters contribute thousands of dollars annual in restricted and unrestricted gifts to support the university’s programs of academic excellence through the association.

Tiger Advocates, created and sponsored by the LSU Alumni Association, communicates LSU’s goals to Louisiana legislators. As a collective voice for LSU, it helps ensure the university operates at its optimum level as a top-ranked university that educates Louisiana’s future leaders, drives diverse economic development, produces scientific research, and serves the people of the state.

The LSU Alumni Association owns and operates The Cook Hotel – which is open to the public – located directly behind the Lod Cook Alumni Center. The LSU-themed boutique hotel was remodeled in 2017. Reservations may be made online at www.thecookhotel.com or by calling 866-610-2665. The John and Rose Ann Shelton Gift Shop in the hotel offers the best in LSU merchandise and apparel, which can be viewed and purchased via the website at giftshop.lsualumni.org. For more information, contact the gift shop at 225-383-0241.

The Lod Cook Alumni Center and the adjacent Jack and Priscilla Andonie Museum (also known as the Andonie Sports Museum) offer meeting space for conferences, seminars, workshops, weddings, receptions, lectures, and banquets. Catering is provided by Unique Cuisine Catering, the association’s exclusive caterer. For conference or event bookings, call 225-578-3829. Individual or group hotel room reservations may be placed by calling toll-free 866-610-2665.

The LSU Alumni Association, organized along both academic and geographic lines, offers membership in alumni chapters and academic affiliate chapters nationwide. The organization is governed by its Global Board of Directors, which formulates and administers policy. Additional information concerning membership in the LSU Alumni Association, its subsidiaries, or programs may be obtained by calling 888-RINGLSU or 225-578-3838 or at www.lsualumni.org.

LSU Foundation

BRYAN BENCHOFF, President & CEO and LSU Vice President of Institutional Advancement

The LSU Foundation cultivates and invests in philanthropic partnerships to advance LSU’s academic priorities. The LSU Foundation’s vision is to catalyze transformational philanthropic support for LSU.

The LSU Foundation is a nonprofit, private foundation and manages most of the endowed funds and other assets donated by private individuals, corporations, and organizations for the benefit of the university. The Foundation invests the funds for the benefit of specific, donor-directed purposes in the various colleges, schools, and departments of the university.

Gifts have provided many enhancements that would not have been available otherwise, including endowed chairs and professorships, distinguished lecture series, endowed scholarships, endowed fellowships, capital projects, library resources, and awards programs for faculty, staff, and student achievement. The Foundation is the authorized agency for management of the matching grants for chair, professorship, and scholarship endowments provided by the Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund.

Gifts may be designated by the donor for the highest priority needs of the university or a department or may be restricted to specific uses. Endowments may be named by the donor. Gifts may also be included in the estate plans of individuals, using wills, trusts, insurance policies, and other planning methods. Gifts to the LSU Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Visit www.lsufoundation.org to learn more about supporting LSU through philanthropic giving.

Tiger Athletic Foundation

RICHARD B. PERRY, President and CEO

Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF) is a private, nonprofit corporation.  TAF’s mission is “to assist Louisiana State University in building and maintaining a superior athletic program by providing private financial support for programs and facilities that ensure LSU student-athletes the opportunity to win in the classroom, in competition, and in life.”

Among TAF’s many accomplishments are over $400 million in construction and improvement of athletic facilities including over $270 million for college football’s greatest venue, Tiger Stadium.  Other facility projects include the University Club Golf Course and Practice Facility, Cox Academic Center for Student-Athletes, Mike the Tiger’s Habitat, the Alex Box Baseball Stadium Suites, the Gymnastics Training Facility, and the Tennis Complex.  TAF’s primary mission in supporting LSU Athletics is to ensure that each student-athlete has the opportunity to be a student first, and in doing so obtain an education that will ensure their success in life. To accomplish this goal, TAF has created a non-endowed annual scholarship fund as well as two endowed scholarship programs so that all tiger fans – regardless of means – have the opportunity to play a part in ensuring that every current and future student-athlete has the opportunity to earn an LSU degree.  TAF has also provided in excess of $3.5 million in academic scholarships and teaching awards to the University.  TAF members are dedicated to supporting LSU, LSU Athletics, and LSU student-athletes.