Iowa State University Foundation
Iowa State University Foundation reported $196.2 million in revenue and $204.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.69 went to program services, $10.55 to management and general costs and $11.76 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 86.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $619,730 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 39 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 48% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $205MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $196MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.8% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 86.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $619,730 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.30% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 39 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 121.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFacilities: the foundation provided more than $63 million to the university in support of new building construction, renovation, and equipment needs. State-of-the-art facilities help the university attract high-quality faculty and students. These facilities provide space, environments, and technologies that promote the highest levels of teaching, learning, and research. Private gift support assisted in funding of the therkildsen industrial engineering building, veterinary diagnostic laboratory, labaron hall, and more
Student support: Iowa State undergraduate and graduate students received over $57.1 million in scholarships, fellowships, loans, and awards from private gift support. Students received both merit and need based scholarships across all programs and units of the university. Private gift support is critical to ensuring that all willing students are able to explore their education opportunities, experience college life, and efficiently manage tuition costs and debt loads. In the fiscal year, more than 8,400 students received scholarships funded by private gift support
Faculty and program support: with over $33.5 million from the Iowa State University Foundation, university faculty and staff received additional support allowing for increased research opportunities and improved classroom experiences for all students. Private gift support helps meet the university's goal to attract and retain the world-class faculty which ultimately attracts the best and brightest students. During the fiscal year, the number of endowed faculty positions (chairs, professorships, and fellowships) was 247
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $546,673 | $0 | $73,057 | $619,730 |
| VP & CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $321,629 | $0 | $62,044 | $383,673 |
| VP & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,993 | $0 | $51,668 | $283,661 |
| VP & CHIEF INFO OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,110 | $0 | $46,874 | $277,984 |
| VP & CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $228,415 | $0 | $32,472 | $260,887 |
| ASSISTANT VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $191,090 | $0 | $44,471 | $235,561 |
| ASSISTANT VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $188,243 | $0 | $46,216 | $234,459 |
| ASSISTANT VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,112 | $0 | $47,023 | $232,135 |
39 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Iowa State University Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5305
- Volunteers Part I, line 6229
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| VIKING LONG FUND LP Investment fees | $1,240,229 |
| CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATES LLC Consulting | $1,133,875 |
| ADAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS LP Investment fees | $938,868 |
| SALESFORCE INC Online/software services | $774,168 |
| UC INNOVATION Consulting | $647,290 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 46 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
82 private foundations reported grants to Iowa State University Foundation totaling $4.8M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Iowa State University Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Iowa State University Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Iowa State University Foundation spent in FY2025, $77.69 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Oregon Health & Science University FoundationPortland, OR · revenue $194M · programs 77.6% · FY2025
- Oral Roberts UniversityTulsa, OK · revenue $198M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
- Western New England UniversitySpringfield, MA · revenue $194M · programs 89.0% · FY2025
- University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyCanada, · revenue $198M · programs 89.0% · FY2025
- University of Washington FoundationSeattle, WA · revenue $194M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Iowa State University Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Iowa State University Foundation reported that 77.7% of its $204.9 million in expenses went to program services, 10.5% to management and general and 11.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Iowa State University Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Iowa State University Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $619,730, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Iowa State University Foundation get its money?
Of $196.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 86.0% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Iowa State University Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 42-1143702 as a 501(c)(3) organization (organization operated for a governmental college or university), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202641349349312469 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511339349306736 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411369349310951 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311169349300101 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211069349300401 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121349349303102 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 42-1143702: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.