Strategic Plan
July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011
Mission
To secure and steward private gifts that support Iowa State University's aspiration to "create, share and apply knowledge to make Iowa and the world a better place."
Vision
To maximize philanthropy in support of Iowa State University.
Values
We value:
Integrity: adhering to the highest standards of professional, ethical and honest conduct in all aspects of our business.
Donor-Centeredness: respecting our numerous constituents and continually striving to understand and address their needs and interests.
Diversity of Thought: involving diverse persons to identify and respectfully work toward common goals by blending expertise and unique talents.
Innovation: seeking new ways to enhance all aspects of the Foundation’s relationships and operations.
Balance: encouraging an environment that balances employee and foundation goals and needs through mutual respect.
Culture Statement
We are committed to accomplishing our mission by:
Promoting and nurturing volunteerism and philanthropy.
Advancing the transforming power of higher education and Iowa State University’s land grant ideals.
Collaborating and building partnerships to achieve common goals.
Building long-term relationships with our donors and representing their short and long-term interests.
Operating with openness and transparency, while honoring donors’ privacy and donor intent.
Providing our staff and volunteers the tools and resources needed to achieve our goals.
Creating a "best place to work" environment that encourages personal success and fulfillment.
Assumptions
National philanthropy will continue to grow and support for higher education will increase at a modest rate.
The US economy will continue to be stable or grow at a rate that will increase individual wealth and philanthropic capacity.
The fundraising enterprise will grow in a strategic and highly effective manner using resources as efficiently as possible.
Leadership at Iowa State and the ISU Foundation will remain consistent with high-performing staff retained beyond the campaign.
The ISU Foundation will continue to exemplify best practices and innovation.
Fundraising
Philanthropy is an increasingly critical component to fulfilling Iowa State’s mission to create, share, and apply knowledge to make Iowa and the world a better place.
Goals
Meet and exceed the $800 million fundraising target of Campaign Iowa State.
Generate more than $100 million in gifts and commitments on an annual basis.
Increase fundraising production during and beyond Campaign Iowa State by providing the additional resources needed to sustain and grow the fundraising enterprise.
Realize annualized growth of 8 percent for fundraising receipts — cash, pledge payments, and realized deferred gifts — receiving a minimum of $85 million in FY11.
Acquire, on average 6,000 new donors annually while retaining 68% percent of our overall donor base.
Develop compelling fundraising messages and cases for support to engage, inspire, and solicit prospective donors.
Stewardship
Stewardship and genuine appreciation of our donors’ financial support is a moral obligation of receiving their voluntary gifts.
Goals
Increase the ISU Foundation endowment, through new gifts and investment returns, to a minimum of $625 million.
Achieve investment returns that exceed the sum of the annual distribution, administrative fees, and the impact of inflation, calculated on a ten-year rolling average.
Increase the amount of funds transferred to the University for student, faculty and program support by 50 percent from $28 million in FY07 to $42 million in FY11.
Maintain three-year rolling average cost to raise a dollar between 8 and 10 cents.
Ensure donor intent by creating and enhancing reporting mechanisms that demonstrate fulfillment of donor intent.
Provide opportunities to thank donors for their support and demonstrate the impact of philanthropy.
Operations
Operations will be managed in a way that fully utilizes the human capital of volunteers and employees by leveraging all available resources.
Goals
Generate operating revenues necessary to meet the strategic goals of the Foundation and then monitor and manage operations within the annual board-approved budget.
Recruit, engage, and educate volunteers who will provide leadership to the fundraising and stewardship efforts to ensure maximum impact through philanthropy.
Provide employees with a solid infrastructure including current technology and high quality data management.
Realize organization-wide staff retention of at least 90 percent while developing individuals to continuously strengthen the organization.
Eliminate debt of approximately $3 million on ISU Foundation facility to provide additional support to the fundraising enterprise.
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