How Chi Omega connects new members, alumnae, and mentors through ChiO&Co

About Chi Omega

Founded in 1895, Chi Omega is the largest women’s fraternal organization, with more than 400,000 initiates and 181 active collegiate chapters. With a commitment to friendship, leadership, scholarship, and service, Chi Omega strives to empower women at every stage of life—collegians, alumnae, and beyond. From meaningful mentorship opportunities and vibrant chapter communities to career-advancing programs and lifelong connection, Chi Omega fosters a sisterhood that endures well after graduation. 

Challenge: Building habits early to strengthen the pipeline

Chi Omega recognized that lifelong engagement starts the day a new member joins, not at graduation. But separate tools for new member education and alumnae programming created fragmented experiences that made it difficult to form lasting engagement habits. The organization wanted to strengthen connections across generations, from new members beginning their journey to alumnae leading in their careers.

The team set out to unify these experiences and make their alumnae engagement platform a natural part of every member’s journey.

Solution: One connected platform for every member

To bring their vision of lifelong engagement to life, Chi Omega launched ChiO&Co, a branded digital platform built on Graduway that unites education, career growth, and community in one seamless experience. Instead of separate tools for new member education and alumnae engagement, every interaction now happens in a shared space, creating continuity across the entire member journey.

From day one, new members are introduced to the network through ChiO&Co, where they complete their new member education modules and immediately discover what else the community offers: mentoring opportunities, career panels, chapter groups, and more. By making the platform the first digital environment new members use, the organization lays the foundation for lifelong connection.

To keep members coming back, the team created a consistent rhythm of activity and exclusive experiences that build anticipation and pride. A monthly newsletter, “Five Ways to Chi O Today,” highlights simple actions members can take, each linking directly back to the platform. Signature programs such as 30 Under 30 and 75-Year Alumnae spotlights are available only on ChiO&Co, driving members to log in for content they can’t find anywhere else.

Meanwhile, engagement stays strong thanks to a steady cadence of daily feed posts, monthly contests, and themed campaigns that reinforce community connection.

Career and mentorship have also become central pillars of the platform. The Wise Words series, monthly virtual career panels featuring Chi Omega professionals in fields like STEM, business, and education, connects members across generations. Additional programs such as the Chi O Conversations podcast, author spotlights, and mentoring through the PEARL Program give members opportunities to share knowledge, gain visibility, and grow professionally.

All event registrations, resources, and follow-ups are hosted within the platform, making ChiO&Co the go-to destination for professional development and community participation.

That sense of belonging extends even further through more than 100 active Community Groups organized by chapter, region, career field, and shared interests. These groups are led by alumnae volunteers who receive regular prompts and resources from staff members, ensuring steady participation and connection between members at every life stage.

By centralizing engagement in one integrated platform, Chi Omega has created a digital home that connects, educates, and empowers members from their first day as new members to decades into alumnae life.

Outcome: A growing network with lasting impact

Since their launch, the platform has cultivated a thriving and engaged community, now counting 20,000 active members within just two years. Early engagement efforts have paid off: collegians are actively participating even more than alumnae, highlighting the platform’s effectiveness in connecting members at the start of their lifelong network journey.

Engagement continues to climb, with quarter-over-quarter growth in both new registrations and platform activity, demonstrating that members are not only joining but consistently returning for meaningful connections. The platform has also strengthened the career development pipeline, providing members with access to exclusive programs, mentorship opportunities, and high-profile speakers that support professional growth.

Leadership now has a clearer view of the platform’s impact, thanks to quarterly and annual engagement reports that showcase the tangible benefits for members and the broader organization. Together, these outcomes reflect a network that is not only expanding in size but also deepening in connection, creating measurable value for every participant.

Key takeaways

Chi Omega’s experience offers actionable lessons for any organization looking to build lasting engagement.

• Empower volunteers: Equip leaders to manage groups and maintain momentum.
• Start early: Introduce engagement platforms early to build engagement habits.
• Create exclusivity: Gate premium or special content to increase perceived value.
• Stay consistent: A predictable rhythm of posts and programs builds loyalty.
• Integrate systems: Replace fragmented tools to make your platform the single destination for members.

Solution spotlight

Gravyty is the AI-powered engagement platform purpose-built for higher education, K-12 schools, and nonprofits. From first engagement to first gift, Gravyty empowers institutions to deliver smarter, faster, and more personalized engagement at every step of the student and donor journey. With solutions for 24/7 student support, alumni engagement, fundraising and stewardship, Gravyty helps teams scale their impact, break down silos, and provide always-on support without burning out staff.

Graduway enables higher education institutions to connect with their alumni seamlessly through automated outreach, career networking, and digital engagement tools. By integrating with existing systems, Graduway provides organizations like Chi Omega with a single platform to monitor alumnae interactions, engagement levels, and career development.