BANC was started by two Booth alumni, Gayle Haller ’87 and Judy Maley ’84, who wanted to create opportunities for other alumni to give back to the community and leverage their knowledge and expertise to further the missions of Chicagoland nonprofits. 

 

The organization was developed in collaboration with the dean of the business school, Booth Alumni Relations, and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation. The first pilot projects were completed in 2015.

 

Interest among alumni grew quickly, along with BANC’s reputation within the nonprofit community. As of December 2025, BANC had successfully completed 62 projects, engaging 350 Booth alumni volunteers, and providing close to 32,000 hours of pro bono consulting. 

 

While originally launched by Gayle and Judy, a board and working committees, comprised of volunteer Booth alumni, were formed to operate and manage the growing organization. As part of overseeing the organization, the working committees manage the processes of vetting nonprofit clients, matching volunteers to projects, and building and maintaining BANC's resources.

 

In early 2026, BANC became a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), independent from the University of Chicago and Booth School of Business. While still focused on providing Booth alumni with opportunities to give back, BANC’s independence will allow greater flexibility in governing the organization and in recruiting volunteers as it continues to grow.

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