AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University attracted $342.3 million in grants, contracts, gifts and cooperative agreements during fiscal year 2011. This is a decrease of $45.9 million or 12 percent from last year's record high.
Much of the drop from the $388.2 million record set in fiscal year 2010 can be attributed to the expiration of federal stimulus programs and other decreases in federal funding, said Sharron Quisenberry, Iowa State's vice president for research and economic development.
The external funding is in addition to the fiscal year 2011 state appropriation of $228 million for the university's day-to-day operations.
"For the third straight year, Iowa State University has attracted more than $300 million in external support," said President Gregory Geoffroy. "These dollars improve the education of our students, support the research of our faculty and build on the state's investment in our campus. These dollars coming to Iowa help create the knowledge and opportunities that can make Iowa a better place."
The external funding supports research across campus as well as educational projects, student financial aid, buildings, equipment and extension activities. It comes directly to Iowa State from federal, state and local government sources as well as from corporations, foundations and other universities.
Iowa State's largest single source of external funding is the National Science Foundation at $37.9 million. The second highest source was the U.S. Department of Energy at $36.2 million. The third highest was the U.S. Department of Agriculture at $33.8 million.
Of the $342.3 million total, $197.4 million was directed to research projects based on proposals submitted by Iowa State faculty and scientific staff.
"Iowa State University continues to bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the state," said Quisenberry. "This external support demonstrates the strength of our faculty, staff and students. This external support builds university programs that can help the entire state meet the challenges of the 21st century."
Here's a look at the sources of Iowa State's external funding over the past four fiscal years:
Iowa State University Sponsored Funding
Federal by agency
FY11 (July-June)---FY10---FY09---FY08
Department of Agriculture
$33,771,291---$51,883,266---$35,666,132---$42,213,501
Department of Defense
$13,379,745---$10,945,023---$7,321,064---$6,864,485
Department of Health and Human Services
$23,305,165---$20,533,625---$16,594,149---$20,920,178
Department of Education
$31,694,140---$28,662,828---$20,867,672---$18,158,158
Department of Commerce
$2,295,450---$3,122,887---$2,869,301---$1,976,971
Department of Interior
$311,590---$388,796---$333,635---$294,953
Department of Transportation
$4,578,223---$7,986,419---$6,172,517---$4,467,466
Department of Energy
$36,169,324---$59,267,985---$28,091,177---$31,246,121
National Science Foundation
$37,872,682---$46,797,648---$28,171,325---$19,819,541
NASA
$1,023,479---$1,529,047---$1,369,318---$2,675,827
Environmental Protection Agency
$472,392---$245,462---$854,432---$284,807
Other
$5,026,203---$5,631,671---$3,668,217---$2,679,517
Total Federal
$189,899,684---$236,994,657---$151,978,939---$151,601,525
Non-Federal Agency
State, county and city government
$32,156,259---$35,139,824---$33,034,881---$30,803,746
Businesses and corporations
$43,130,632---$38,681,411---$39,365,249---$35,229,610
Foundations and associations
$57,396,777---$55,899,785---$62,558,955---$39,194,147
Individuals
$90,000---$120,800---$160,000---$125,940
Universities and colleges
$16,216,380---$17,757,528---$14,566,162---$12,694,886
Other
$3,401,065---$3,593,586---$3,565,019---$4,487,380
Total Non-Federal
Sponsored Funding Total
$342,290,797---$388,187,591---$305,229,205---$274,137,234