ISU plans to combine Alumni Association and ISU Foundation

[BoxsterCy]

"This is a significant undertaking," Wintersteen said, "but our combined efforts will build upon both organizations' collective strengths and proud histories. It truly is exciting to consider the new opportunities that will emerge and to imagine how we benefit from a unified approach to engaging our tremendously loyal, tremendously supportive students, alumni, donors and friends." - ISU

Plan to combine alumni association, foundation moves forward • Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff • Iowa State University

www.inside.iastate.edu

Not sure how this will all flush out, whether it's a full merger under a new title or a soft combo of teams, the details at this time are pretty vague. The groups are pretty cross pollinated as it is so I don't think it's anything like a hostile corporate merger. Will be interesting to see how this new group gets along with the athletic department. The athletic department has always seemed to me to be less than friendly with either group as they seem to think they are "competitors" vying for dollars that should be donated to the department, and now NIL.

Since the COVID year, and suspended ISUAA event hosting in that period, the alumni association has seemed to lose a lot of momentum and the same of the ISU Foundation as well, at least locally here. ISU Foundation used to come up to Mpls (15,000 alumni here in the greater metro) annually each spring/summer and host a big invite president's reception. They have not done that in a number of years. Granted those relied a lot on a well to do alumni to sponsor it so maybe that country club set isn't stepping up like they used to. The last one they hosted was a poorly attended one hosted in a downtown Mpls hotel, not a great appeal locale compared to something like hosting at a country club or the Walker Art Center or something of that genre.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Positive move, imo.

Jeff J is wonderful and has done a great job.
Bottom line - we don't need two organizations serving the same people, and ultimately, the same mission.

 

[VeloClone]

Curious whether this new merged organization will honor our lifetime Alumni Association memberships.

 

[jsb]

Positive move, imo.

Jeff J is wonderful and has done a great job.
Bottom line - we don't need two organizations serving the same people, and ultimately, the same mission.

I believe Jeff Johnson has taken a leave of absence due to a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

 

[Jer]

I believe Jeff Johnson has taken a leave of absence due to a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

That is correct, unfortunately.

 

[cytor]

Positive move, imo.

Jeff J is wonderful and has done a great job.
Bottom line - we don't need two organizations serving the same people, and ultimately, the same mission.

Agree. This seems to makes sense cost wise, too.

 

[Pope]

I believe Jeff Johnson has taken a leave of absence due to a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

I'm guessing this move has been on the University's radar for some time, and with Jeff Johnson stepping away due to health reasons they figured now would be an opportune time to pull the trigger on the merger. Just speculation on my part.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Curious whether this new merged organization will honor our lifetime Alumni Association memberships.

They will.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Positive move, imo.

Jeff J is wonderful and has done a great job.
Bottom line - we don't need two organizations serving the same people, and ultimately, the same mission.

Well, they haven't really been the "same mission" even though they work closely together. The Foundation is fund raising and the ISUAA has been to provide a lifelong connection and to promote and PR ISU. They will still do both but with teams assigned to these tasks but under one "roof".

Curious whether this new merged organization will honor our lifetime Alumni Association memberships.

The short answer is "yes", 100% sure on that.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Well, they haven't really been the "same mission" even though they work closely together. The Foundation is fund raising and the ISUAA has been to provide a lifelong connection and to promote and PR ISU. They will still do both but with teams assigned to these tasks but under one "roof".



The short answer is "yes", 100% sure on that.

I wouldn't say they have worked "closely together." In the purest sense, they have different missions, but generally the same customers/members/prospects, etc. It makes sense to put under one roof.

BTW - Jeff J has been wonderful for the AA and ISU.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Agree. This seems to makes sense cost wise, too.

I doubt there will be much in savings but will likely have some gains in efficiency. Neither is funded by the state or the university. Both work primarily off of donations and endowments etc (Foundation also supports itself through a percentage of funds it raises as donations).

 

[RonBurgundy]

This is a good idea. As someone that has years of experience in the non-profit area, it has always struck me how much waste there must be in organizations that basically serve the same mission (hunger, veterans, cancer, etc). Each of them has its own CEO/President and staff, Such a waste. For example, if you just google "Ames, IA hunger organizations" you will probably come up with a list of 6-10 charities just in that region with similar mission. And that does not even count the religious organizations.

 

[Cycsk]

What does this mean for the Alumni Center? It has such a prominent location, especially on game days. And even more once CyTown is operational. The Foundation is hidden behind The Gateway Hotel.

 

[BCClone]

I rejoined the alumni association a couple years ago. I got a coffee tumbler and a calendar. That was the extent. I don’t mind donating money for causes, but I didn’t see the value in it so it was a one year deal.

Got an email asking me about reupping when my year was up and that was the last contact I got.

 

[CysLoveChild]

I have mixed feelings on this. I've always felt like the ISU Foundation is more like a sweaty Collections Call Center, except they call and I (thankfully) have zero ISU debts for them to be collecting on. Vs the Alumni Association where I feel like they moreso represent a continued connection to the University for alums. I happened to jump on an offer 3 or 4 years ago where for 24 hours they offered Life Memberships for half price. I jumped all over that. Calendar every year, 15% off at the Bookstore and CysLockerroom for life.

 

[VeloClone]

I rejoined the alumni association a couple years ago. I got a coffee tumbler and a calendar. That was the extent. I don’t mind donating money for causes, but I didn’t see the value in it so it was a one year deal.

Got an email asking me about reupping when my year was up and that was the last contact I got.

You didn't get the magazine?

 

[BCClone]

You didn't get the magazine?

I was getting that a few times a year before. I didn’t really read it.

 

[NWICY]

Became a life member of the Alumni Assoc a long time ago when it was pretty cheap, living out of state back then it was a easy way to stay in touch with the University.
Between the magazine, calendar, and 20%(?) off ISU clothing at the MU it been a OK deal for me.

The foundation on the other hand I've had to work with on some other projects from a fundraising standpoint I don't mind them getting their cut but they really are a lot better about collecting funds than they are out connecting people.
This is one person experience on a 1 time basis your results may differ. The Foundation probably really shines if your a big money donor looking for your name on a building.

As said by quite a few above Jeff Johnson has been a huge asset for the AA and is a really nice person on top of it.

Also the AA trips are supposed to be really nice, even though they are kind of pricey. They do go to some really interesting places and look like they would be a lot of fun.

 

[CascadeClone]

Well, they haven't really been the "same mission" even though they work closely together. The Foundation is fund raising and the ISUAA has been to provide a lifelong connection and to promote and PR ISU. They will still do both but with teams assigned to these tasks but under one "roof".

Seems to me like the ISUAA mission done well, will lead to a lot more success with the Foundation mission. So I can see the potential here for not just cost saving by eliminating duplication, but with the right strategy and approach, this could be a serious winner.

 

[BoxsterCy]

I wouldn't say they have worked "closely together." In the purest sense, they have different missions, but generally the same customers/members/prospects, etc. It makes sense to put under one roof.

BTW - Jeff J has been wonderful for the AA and ISU.

I'd say they do. Foundation guy officing with ISUAA to help them raise funds used to meet with me regarding donations. Other years it was Jeff from ISUAA but the purpose was the same, partially acknowledging my volunteer work and partly fund raising. The lines were sort of blurred like when the ISU Foundation did Order of the Knoll events here in Mpls, it was a mix of ISUAA peeps like Jeff and company and the Foundation folks even though it was an invite from ISU Foundation. And throw in the athletic department but that was mostly just the AD being there to chat a little.