You’ve built something special.
The Collegiate Alumni Jumpstart Grant is back for a second year. Five more programs will get the strategy, coaching, and roadmap to turn their alumni network into lasting support.
Madak Jumpstart clients have seen results
$2M
Total in Fundraising
2
National Championships
15
New Scholarships Offered
Thousands
Engaged Alumni
You work hard to lead your program. Staying competitive with limited support is tough.
We get it. That’s why we’re offering this grant — to help leaders like you build lasting support through alumni activation.
Alumni you can't reach
Decades of players, no reliable way to contact or engage them.
Funding that resets each year
Decades of players, no reliable way to contact or engage them.
A board stretched thin
Decades of players, no reliable way to contact or engage them.
No annual moment
Decades of players, no reliable way to contact or engage them.
You’re Not Alone — Hear From Leaders Like You
Western Washington University Rugby Program
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University of Washington Rugby Program
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A process built around your program
No generic template. Madak works directly with your board to assess where you are, then hands you a roadmap you can actually run.
apply for the 2026 grantOnboarding assessment
An in-depth look at your program, board, alumni data, and current fundraising.
Analysis & strategy
Two working sessions with your leadership to find the highest-leverage opportunities — and a third if your program needs it.
Recommendations
A custom roadmap with practical steps for fundraising, communication, events, and alumni growth.
Recalibration
Reconnect to review progress, refine the strategy, and get coaching to keep momentum going.
This grant is built for rugby leaders ready to elevate their programs
Grant Application Process
Here’s exactly what happens after you apply.
Step 1
Apply online until August 31
Step 2
Complete the onboarding form
Step 3
Finalists are reviewed and selected by the Grant Committee
Step 4
Winners are announced in September 2025
Step 5
Selected programs begin their onboarding and strategy sessions with Madak
Delivered with Madak
Madak is a marketing agency specializing in rugby, focused on strategic planning, digital impact, and alumni activation. They partner with clubs, foundations, and governing bodies to help them reach their full potential — and they run this program alongside the Foundation from onboarding through recalibration.
“We’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of activated alumni networks, and we’re thrilled to bring our proven methodology to more collegiate programs alongside the US Rugby Foundation.”Learn more about madak
Adam Lejeunekopp, CEO, Madak
The Collegiate Alumni Association Playbook
Not ready to apply, or not selected? Take the playbook. It’s the same thinking that shapes the grant, written for any collegiate alumni association to use on its own.
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A National Commitment to Collegiate Rugby Growth
US Rugby Foundation and Madak have partnered to launch the Collegiate Alumni Jumpstart Grant, a first of its kind program designed to empower rugby leaders with the strategy and support needed to unlock the power of their alumni network.
This is a defining moment for college rugby in the United States.
Congratulations to the 2025 Collegiate Alumni Jumpstart Grant Recipients!
Now it’s time to unlock its full potential.
Applications for the 2026 Collegiate Alumni Jumpstart Grant are open through September 30, 2026, 11:59pm PT. If you lead a collegiate program and dream of stronger alumni connections, better funding, and a legacy that lasts — this was designed for you.
Apply now