FAQ: Measuring the Foundation's success
How does the Foundation's fundraising performance compare with its peers?
The UI Foundation is ranked very favorably in a number of categories when compared to peer institutions in the Big Ten, among other public research/doctoral schools (129 total), and among all public/private research/doctoral institutions (as defined by the Council for Aid to Education, 199 total).
How does the Foundation manage its endowment?
An endowment provides financial support for immediate and future needs of The University of Iowa. Endowed funds may be unrestricted, which means they can be used wherever the need is greatest, or specified for use in a particular UI college, department, or program. Unlike legislative appropriations or annual contributions, endowed funds are invested to protect their "purchasing power" so that over the long term, the fund will fulfill the donor's specified purpose.
What is the size of the Foundation's endowment?
As of June 30, 2009 , the market value of the combined University of Iowa and University of Iowa Foundation endowment was $714.0 million . Two facts are important to remember about the combined UI/UI Foundation endowment:
- More than 95 percent of the UI/UI Foundation endowment is restricted to donor-specified uses; that is, the funds are designated to support particular UI colleges or programs, and neither the principal nor the income can be directed to other needs within the University, even during times of severe budget shortfalls.
- In terms of student enrollment, The University of Iowa is the smallest public institution in the Big Ten, and it's not surprising that the size of our endowment ranks as the smallest of the Big Ten schools. On a per-student basis, however, the UI/UI Foundation endowment ranks fourth among public institutions in the Big Ten.