Leading by Example

Olivia Madison and Gregory Palermo are a dynamic duo. Both highly regarded by their Iowa State University peers, both leaders on and off-campus. Together, this husband and wife team, are more than academic leaders at Iowa State, they’re donors.

“Our gifts support a variety of areas, but they all have one basic theme: Enrichment,” said Olivia, 1972 Iowa State alumna and dean of ISU’s University Library. “Enrichment in terms of helping students, faculty and staff expand their horizons, grow intellectually, enjoy new cultural experiences, improve their lives and thereby helping them to achieve their best.”

Olivia and Gregory were able to explore the many gift planning options available and determine which tool would best fit their needs and goals. Through a bequest and an outright cash gift, their support goes to areas like study abroad, the library as well as the library’s faculty and staff, just to name a few.

A bequest naming Iowa State in a living trust is the easiest and most popular deferred git plans used by alumni and friends. Donors may name the Iowa State University Foundation as a percentage beneficiary, for a specific dollar amount or specific assets, or as a residual or contingent recipient.

“I like to think of it as a ‘margin of excellence’ that private giving provides,” explained Gregory, professor of architecture in the Iowa State University College of Design. “It’s exciting to support a college or program, but we also have the opportunity to support those university-wide programs and facilities from which there are no graduates such as, our campus museums, the library, and honors programs. All areas that create a rich experience at Iowa State and benefit the entire campus community.”

With the recent launch of Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose, there’s a new excitement on campus. Because this is university’s largest fundraising campaign in history with a goal of $800 million, the impact will be transformational for the institution. Olivia and Gregory are doing their part to ensure a successful campaign and gain wide participation. In fact, Gregory volunteered to help coordinate the faculty and staff component of the campaign.

“We believe that when you ask others to give to an organization, you must also believe strongly in the mission and goals of that organization,” said Olivia. “What better way to get involved than to decide you can make a difference to the university’s future and encourage others to do the same.”

“We are members of a great academic community,” said Gregory. “The cumulative impact of gifts of any size can help shape prospects for enriched results in research learning and teaching. As citizens of that community, we can make a difference.”