By: Amy Crook
What next? You’ve got your diploma in hand or maybe you are in between semesters. What are you doing to connect with your city? What are you doing to grow professionally? Networking can sometimes seem overwhelming. Here is a compiled list of organizations here in Indianapolis you may want to consider being involved with:
People for Urban Progress
An Indianapolis-based 501c3 non-profit organization that promotes and advances public transit, environmental awareness, and urban design. We stand for project-based urban progress. We’re an idea incubator, design center, and do-tank.
Indyhub
Attract, engage and motivate young professionals of all varieties to make Indianapolis an even greater place to live, work and play.
http://indyhub.org/
Techpoint
Accelerate Indiana’s emerging and vibrant information technology sector by promoting the successes of IT companies and professionals, supporting the formation, expansion and attraction of IT companies; and advocating appropriate public policy.
http://www.techpoint.org/
NAWBO
A global beacon for influence, ingenuity and action and is uniquely positioned to provide incisive commentary on issues of importance to women business owners. Everything NAWBO undertakes leverages the unique attributes that women business owners bring to the table and is designed to illuminate, transform – and ultimately harness – the nation’s wide-ranging community of entrepreneurial women into an ever-more-influential unified voice and increasingly dynamic leadership roles.
http://www.nawboindy.org/
Linking Indy Women
A professional group that connects women looking to inspire or be inspired through building business relationships with one another.
http://linkingindywomen.com/
BNI
To help members increase their business through a structured, positive, and professional “word-of-mouth” program that enables them to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals.
http://www.bni.com/
Rainmakers
Rainmakers is a business development system that provides a platform for business growth and personal goal achievement. We operate on the philosophy of Be More. Serve More. We view networking as a way to build relationships that will bring you an annuity stream of business rather than a one-time sale. We teach people how to build long-term strategic relationships by identifying a niche and building their business relationships within it.
http://gorainmakers.com
Oxfam International
An international confederation of 15 organizations working together in 98 countries and with partners and allies around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. We work directly with communities and we seek to influence the powerful to ensure that poor people can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.
https://blogs.oxfam.org/en/blogs/3302
Toastmasters International
A non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations.
http://www.toastmasters.org/
Economic Club of Indiana
To promote an interest in, and enlighten its membership on, important governmental, economic and social issues.
http://www.economicclubofindiana.com/
AMA
An international organization committed to promoting the personal and professional development of its members and to advancing the science and ethical practice of the marketing discipline.
http://www.indyama.com/
Indiana Sports Corporation
To promote Indiana as an attractive place to live, work and visit through sports and sporting events that bring national and international attention to the area.
https://www.indianasportscorp.org/
Giving Sum
A not-for-profit organization of emerging philanthropists working together to improve Indianapolis and central Indiana. By combining members’ resources – time, talent, and finances, Giving Sum is able to multiply the impact that members have on the community and on each other.
http://www.givingsum.org/
Back on My Feet
Back on My Feet is a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.
http://indianapolis.backonmyfeet.org/
Dress for Success
To promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
https://indianapolis.dressforsuccess.org/
Girls, Inc.
Our mission is simple: to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
http://www.girlsincindy.org/
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Unites people to build community and transform public spaces through aesthetic and environmental improvement.
http://www.kibi.org/
In addition to these, consider getting involved with your alumni association, your neighborhood association, your local chamber of commerce. Perhaps increase your volunteer activity. What organizations are you passionate about that aren’t on this list?
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