- Why is it important to contribute private gifts for the benefit of SIU?
Your gifts make a difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff, and the community of Southern Illinois University. Private gifts supply the needed support to attract and assist students to attend SIU Carbondale, in addition to funding cutting-edge research, including agriculture, sciences, human behavior and medical breakthroughs. These gifts provide students, alumni and the local community accessibility to the arts. These contributions are an important revenue source and allow SIU Carbondale to serve as a passionate advocate and champion for all those who want to learn.
- How does the SIU Foundation serve the university?
The Foundation works with all SIU Carbondale colleges, schools and other units (such as the Paul Simon Institute, Morris Library, Saluki Athletics and SIU Alumni Association) to generate private support from alumni and friends. The Foundation provides several fundraising services through its annual giving programs, corporate and foundation relations, planned gifts (i.e. wills, trusts, estates, etc.) and major gift officers. The Foundation also stewards the private support once it is received. The Foundation specifically serves the university by:
- Strategizing, coordinating and executing SIU Carbondale’s fundraising goals and initiatives.
- Planning campaigns.
- Conducting feasibility studies.
- Providing fundraising services for smaller academic units.
- Training staff in fundraising and relationship building.
- Recruiting development officers and evaluating development programs.
- Endowment management.
- Disburse funds for the benefit of the university within the donor restrictions.
- How does the SIU Foundation work with the SIU Alumni Association?
The SIU Foundation and the SIU Alumni Association partner in encouraging alumni and friends to establish and maintain their relationship with SIU Carbondale. Your participation and involvement through either or both organizations assist us in advancing the university. Therefore, we encourage you to become a member of the SIU Alumni Association and support pertinent priorities of the university through SIU Foundation gift commitments.
The Alumni Association allows alumni and friends to maintain their ties to SIU Carbondale through various programs, such as dues-paying membership, events and alumni reunions on and off campus, and its quarterly magazine, Southern Alumni.
- Who governs the SIU Foundation?
The SIU Foundation is governed by a voluntary board of directors – including alumni and friends of the university – who elect its officers and appoints its staff. These volunteers are leaders in business and/or their community, with various professional backgrounds; along with being among SIU Carbondale’s most extraordinary supporters. Foundation Officers (CEO, Director of Development, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary) all staff of the Foundation report to this board. In addition, the SIU President and SIU Carbondale Chancellor serve on this board. For more information, please visit the
Board of Directors page under “About Us” menu on this website.
- How is the SIU Foundation accountable?
SIU Foundation Board of Directors and Staff strive to provide stewardship of private gifts and contributions in support of the university. Donors who establish an endowment receive an annual report of the account’s activity. (See Gift Management for additional information.) Donors may direct the use of their gift to benefit student scholarships, faculty support, academic programs, facility upgrades or other projects. Additionally, all donors, to either an existing or new fund, receive a receipt for every contribution. The SIU Foundation complies with all federal, state and other regulatory entities. The Foundation is audited annually.
- Who sets fundraising priorities?
The chancellor – with input from vice chancellors, deans and department and program chairpersons – sets priorities for the university’s colleges and units. The SIU Foundation provides feasibility studies and centralized management of fundraising priorities and develops a university-wide fundraising program to promote and support SIU Carbondale’s agenda. On occasion, some fundraising projects develop from concepts of external individuals or constituencies. SIU Foundation staff members work with donors who demonstrate an interest in supporting any part of the University.
- How is SIU Foundation funded?
The SIU Foundation’s operating budget has the following sources:
- In-kind support from the University as payment for fundraising services.
- Fees:
- Endowments are assessed an annualized fee of 1.4% of the fair value.
- SIU Carbondale and the SIU Foundation retain 6% of all gifts to enhance philanthropic-related initiatives (1% of this fee is returned to the college to support their targeted philanthropic initiatives).
- Income from investments of non-endowed funds, unrestricted operating endowment and a portion of unrestricted gifts.
