University Advancement

Welcome to the Illinois State University Foundation

"Illinois State University, the state’s first public university, focuses on its students. The resources of a large institution, coupled with small school individuality, are possible in large part because of the support of alumni, faculty, staff, community, and other friends. The Illinois State University Foundation is dedicated to supporting the mission and bright future of the University. The Division of University Advancement concentrates on developing relationships important to building strong ties with all members of the growing network of Illinois State friends, colleagues, and family."

Executive Director of the Foundation

About the Foundation

“Our purpose is to solicit, secure and manage private gifts. Our mission is to use those gifts to support the distinctive excellence of Illinois State University in teaching, learning, scholarship, creativity and service to others.” - Foundation Mission Statement

Illinois State University Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Illinois. The purpose of the Foundation is “to assist in developing and increasing education opportunities and the facilities of Illinois State University…and to receive, hold, and administer gifts with the primary objective of serving the education purposes of the University.” (Illinois State University Foundation Constitution, Article I, Section 4)

Foundation fund-raising is the responsibility of Development, which coordinates and leads all department, college, and nonacademic unit efforts including the Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Corporation/Foundations Giving, and Planned Giving.

Purpose

• Assist in developing and increasing educational opportunities and the facilities of the University for service to its students, alumni, and citizens of the state and nation by encouraging gifts of money, property, art, historic papers and documents, museum specimens, and other material having educational, artistic, or historic value
• Receive, hold, and administer such gifts with primary objective of serving educational purposes of the University; to act as trustee of educational or charitable trusts; to administer gifts, grants, or loans of money or property, real or personal
• Consider such acts and enterprises that are in the interest and welfare of the University
• Invest any funds given or entrusted to the Foundation that are not precluded from such investment by the donor(s)

The Illinois State University Foundation administers over 450 named endowments. These endowed funds support scholarships, research, and other activities of the University and can be established for general purposes or to support specific academic programs.