Support for External Fundraising through the UI Foundation

Function of the UI Foundation

The University of Iowa Foundation (Levitt Center for University Advancement, 335-3305) is the preferred channel for private support to all areas of the University. The Foundation and the College jointly support the positions of Senior Director, Director, and two Associate Directors of Development for Liberal Arts and Sciences. These officers work with the College and departments to generate major private gifts, develop contacts with alumni and potential contributors, and raise unrestricted gifts to the Liberal Arts and Sciences Development Fund.

Departments consult the Foundation before initiating any fund-raising activity, whether by mail, phone, or personal contact.

Services Provided by UI Foundation

The UI Foundation’s services fall into the following five categories:

• Alumni Communications. To support regular communication with alumni, the Foundation offers initial content and design review of newsletters and surveys free of charge and provides mailing labels from its alumni database for a nominal fee. If newsletters contain contribution forms or other response devices, the Foundation must review the wording and assign appropriate codes for tracking and recording gifts.
• Annual Fund Programs. These annual campaigns lay the groundwork for more extensive fund-raising initiatives. The Foundation offers for a fee writing, design, and mailing services for direct mail campaigns.
• Capital Campaigns. Major gift campaigns, with goals of $100,000 or more, must be approved by the Dean’s Office and the Foundation (and in some cases by central administration). Once approved, major gift campaigns require considerable long-range planning, including a feasibility study.
• Deferred Gifts. The Foundation’s gift planning staff work with individual alumni and other contributors on gifts made through methods such as wills or trusts.
• Stewardship. The Foundation acknowledges all contributions, provides receipts, and recognizes contributions through honor rolls such as the Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Club and the Presidents Club. The Foundation encourages departments to recognize their donors in ways that range from sending thank-you letters to planning activities that incorporate donors into the life of the department (e.g., bringing scholarship donors together with student recipients).