By Anna Kayser
Phil Week, dedicated to promoting philanthropy on campus, is all about giving faculty and staff a chance to raise money for the University of Iowa as a whole. But where does all the money go?
“The short answer is, the funds go wherever people want them to go,” said Jen Knights, the assistant director of campus philanthropy for the UI Foundation. “The UI Foundation raises money for the entire university, and people get to choose what they want to support.”
When people make donations, they designate a place for their money to be put to use. There are many organizations the money could go to, such as Dance Marathon, Hancher, individual departments, the UI Children’s Hospital, athletics, and many more.
There are numerous, separate funds in some colleges, so money given to each department can be directed specifically toward a cause. Faculty and staff are encouraged to give towards something they are passionate about.
Education Professor Tim Ansley, a volunteer for Phil Week, said a lot of money goes to student funding and scholarships.
“Funding from the We Are Phil campaign has a great impact on our university. More support for students is always needed,” Ansley said. “In addition, financial support to advance research and the arts is critical. Donations to We Are Phil are important investments in our future.”
Research assistant Kim Merchant, the co-head of the College of Public Health We Are Phil Committee, said there are two funds the college is highlighting this year: Dollars for Scholars and Staff Professional Development Fund.
“Both funds are new, and we hope they are of interest to faculty and staff as they make their decision to give,” she said.
Any amount of money given to Dollars for Scholars will go toward the College of Public Health undergraduate scholarship fund. The Public Health Staff Professional Development Fund will provide professional development opportunities for staff.
Because state funding for public colleges and universities has declined over the years, the UI relies more and more heavily on these types of events to cover costs. Administrators hope money given to the university will help to provide affordable, high-quality education to its students.
The UI Foundation is a nonprofit organization and is the preferred choice for people who want to donate to the university as a whole.
Some things that the foundation assists with are research, student scholarships, and health care. The UI Foundation’s goals are “maximizing fundraising through innovative strategies, promoting an exceptional and effective workplace, and excelling in nonprofit best practices,” according to its website.
Its mission statement is “advancing the University of Iowa and fulfilling the aspirations of those it serves.” It was organized in 1956 and is designated to help the UI with funding that the state doesn’t provide. The organization is independent from the UI.
All the money from the event goes toward the UI in some way.
