Iowa College Foundation
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Iowa College Foundation Facts

MISSION
The Iowa College Foundation (ICF) is a nonprofit organization that provides students the opportunity for a high quality education by securing financial resources for our member private colleges and universities.

  • 44,000 students attend private colleges and universities in Iowa.
    • 55% of the student body comes from Iowa.
    • More than one-third of the students attending ICF’s member colleges and universities are first-generation college students.
    • More than 40% of the state’s minority college students are enrolled at Iowa’s private colleges and universities.
  • 91% of students receive some type of educational funding.
  • Typically, students don’t go to private colleges/universities without financial aid.

PURPOSE
One of the Iowa College Foundation’s goals is to keep Iowa students in Iowa colleges and in Iowa after graduation.

  • Almost three-fourths of students who attend private colleges/universities stay in Iowa after graduation, compared to just 17% of their state university counterparts.

HISTORY
Founded in 1952 with assistance from Iowa’s business community, the Iowa College Foundation has provided more than $58 million to private college and university students and research programs.

NATIONAL AFFILIATION
The Iowa College Foundation is one of 36 similar state foundations nationally represented by the Foundation for Independent Higher Education in Washington, D.C. The 36 associations represent 667 independent colleges and universities in the United States.

  • ICF ranks:
    • first in the number of donors;
    • first in the number of private colleges/universities per capita; and
    • eighth in number of total dollars raised.

FUNDING
Each year, the Iowa College Foundation solicits funding support from Iowa’s business communities, foundations and individuals on behalf of private higher education in Iowa.

  • In 2004-2005, ICF raised $1.65 million from almost 900 donors.
  • Twenty-eight scholarship programs are administered by ICF, including Coca-Cola, U.S. Bank, UPS, Iowa Grocery Industry Association, Prairie Meadows, and the Pioneer George Washington Carver/Henry A. Wallace Scholarships.
  • Three special programs are also administered by ICF including the Northeastern Iowa College Readiniess Program, Maytag Innovation Awards for Student/Faculty Research, and the R.J. McElroy Student/Faculty Research Program.
  • Fund-raising costs average less than 10% annually.

STUDENTS

  • Nearly 60% of ICF graduates earn their degree in four years, compared with 17% at Iowa’s public universities.
  • Approximately 70% of Iowa graduates (residents of Iowa) and 20% of out-of-state graduates have remained in Iowa to work or continue their education.
  • Last year, more than 96% of all private college and university graduates entered the workforce or began professional/graduate studies within six months of graduation.
  • More than half of the students at ICF’s member colleges participate in volunteer activities in their communities, averaging eight hours a week.

MEMBER COLLEGES
Briar Cliff University, Sioux City
Buena Vista University, Storm Lake
Central College, Pella
Clarke College, Dubuque
Coe College, Cedar Rapids
Cornell College, Mount Vernon
Dordt College, Sioux Center
Drake University, Des Moines
Graceland University, Lamoni
Grand View College, Des Moines
Grinnell College, Grinnell
Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant
Loras College, Dubuque
Luther College, Decorah
Morningside College, Sioux City
Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids
Northwestern College, Orange City
Simpson College, Indianola
St. Ambrose University, Davenport
University of Dubuque, Dubuque
Upper Iowa University, Fayette
Waldorf College, Forest City
Wartburg College, Waverly
William Penn University, Oskaloosa

 LEADERSHIP
Chair: Gage A. Kent, President, Muscatine Foods Corporation, Muscatine, IA
Vice Chair: Frederick V. Moore, President of Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, IA
Secretary: John C. Reynders, President of Morningside College, Sioux City, IA
Treasurer: Thomas E. Stanberry, Chairman and CEO, West Bancorporation, Inc./West Bank, West Des Moines, IA

Board of Governors:
Comprised of the presidents of ICF’s 24 member institutions and 35 corporate leaders from across the state.

STAFF
Jack D. Jones, President
Velma A. Peters, Vice President for Administration and Scholarships
Susan R. Armstrong, Administrative Assistant

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Click HERE, or call (515) 282-0473.