AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University today publicly launched an $800 million comprehensive fundraising campaign that will raise private dollars to address the high-priority opportunities of the entire institution. The announcement of the largest campaign in university history was made by ISU President Gregory Geoffroy at a morning event attended by students, faculty and staff.
"The achievements of this campaign will transform Iowa State for many to years to come," Geoffroy said. "With the support of committed alumni and friends, there is no limit to the possibilities our future holds."
Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose will help provide the "margin of excellence" funding to provide opportunities that only private support can achieve, Geoffroy explained.
Campaign priorities were determined through a collaborative strategic planning process where Iowa State faculty and students submitted suggestions that were reviewed by Geoffroy and other Iowa State leaders. All priorities were required to be directly tied to the university's strategic plan. Four key areas will be supported through Campaign Iowa State:
- Student support -- $235 million for merit and need-based scholarships.
- Faculty support -- $215 million for endowed chairs, professorships and fellowships.
- Program support -- $195 million for academic and out-of-classroom programs.
- Facility support -- $155 million for academic and athletics building and renovation projects.
It is common for universities conducting a fundraising campaign to raise a significant portion of the goal prior to the public announcement. Iowa State officially began the quiet phase of its campaign on July 1, 2003 with closure scheduled Dec. 31, 2010. To date, the campaign has received $508 million in gifts and commitments from almost 100,000 donors. This dollar amount already surpasses the $458 million raised in the previous campaign that concluded in 2000.
Campaign support has already made a significant impact. New scholarship accounts created to date during the campaign total 433. Last fiscal year, about 4,100 students received scholarships through private support. New faculty endowed positions created to date during the campaign total 35 for an overall total of 110. In addition, several facility projects have been completed or are underway thanks to campaign support. These include the renovation of Morrill Hall, and the construction of the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, the Dr. W. Eugene and Linda Lloyd Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Alumni Center.
"This has been a tremendous effort to date," said Roger Underwood of Ames, the volunteer campaign chair and a 1980 graduate of Iowa State. "As I think about the future of Iowa State, two things come to mind: First, we must make sure future generations have an outstanding experience so they can reach higher and farther than we did. Second, private philanthropy is the only way to provide the best scholars, students, programs and facilities to allow Iowa State to fulfill its potential." Underwood is the cofounder of Becker Underwood in Ames and is currently a private investor.
ISU alumni and friends are being asked to support Campaign Iowa State with donations both small and large. Donors are asked to make an investment in an area of their greatest interest. "The majority of donors request their gifts be designated for a specific need," explained Dan Saftig, president of the ISU Foundation - the official fundraising arm of the university. "Our job is to work with benefactors to match their interests and desires with the university's priorities."
"This campaign presents one of the most exciting opportunities for growth and distinction in our institutional history," Geoffroy said. "We have strategically crafted our campaign priorities based on realistic ambitions and innovative ideas. A long history of private philanthropy has brought us to this moment, but new investments and partnerships must now become the catalyst for a new era."
