Making a Difference

Author: sberhow

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events!

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Make plans to join your K-State family at these events this spring!

Campaign events

NEW DATE! Salina Innovation and Inspiration event: Friday, January 27, 2017

Wichita Innovation and Inspiration event:
Friday, March 3, 2017

Watch your mailbox and inbox for more information in the coming weeks. If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Rettele-Thomas at 785-532-7592 or jenniferr@found.ksu.edu.

Trustee Spring Meeting

Friday, April 21, 2017 in Manhattan
Get ready for our Spring Board of Trustees meeting, scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2017 in Manhattan. We’re working hard to put together an extraordinary showcase that will enhance your experience as one of K-State’s premier advocates, ambassadors and investors. You’ll learn about the state of the university and the foundation, the challenges we face and the emerging opportunities where you can make a difference.

Watch your mailbox and your inbox for more information later this year. Questions, contact Jennifer Fabrizius at jenniferf@found.ksu or 785-532-7566.

Coming soon: A new-and-improved Good for K-State magazine!

180x242px_gfks_fall2016_coverYou might notice a few differences in the next issue of Good for K-State magazine, which will arrive in homes before the Thanksgiving holiday. Based on a recent readership survey, we’ve made some improvements in content and design to engage our readers in more stories highlighting the impact of philanthropy at K-State, ideas for giving and more.

Of special note to trustees, we’ve added a new section entitled “Good Work,” which will feature our valued volunteers like you. To kick this new section off, we’re highlighting the Board of Trustees and their roles as K-State’s premier advocates, ambassadors and investors.

We hope you enjoy the next issue. If you have feedback on Good for K-State magazine, please contact Marisa Larson, KSU Foundation’s editorial manager and Good for K-State editor, at marisal@found.ksu.edu or 785-532-7648.

Wildcats encouraged to take #JustDrive pledge

2016-oct-24_1438_08-donttexKansas State University is competing in the Kansas Insurance Department’s Don’t Text #JustDrive campaign. The university with the most votes wins!

K-State family — including alumni and friends — are encouraged to take the pledge:

“No text message, email, website or video is worth the risk of endangering my life or the lives of others on the road. I pledge to not text and drive and will take action to educate others about the dangers of texting while driving. No text is worth the risk. It can wait.”

Take the pledge online or text Wildcat to 50555.

A look back: the 2016 Fall Meeting

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KSU Foundation President and CEO Greg Willems and Acting Chair of the Board of Trustees Sharon Evers at the 2016 Fall Meeting in September.

Thank you to the more than 200 trustees who attended our fall meeting in September. This special edition of Making a Difference will allow you to review the presentations and videos featured at the meeting this year. Whether you were able to attend or not, please be sure to fill out our follow-up survey.

Highlights from this year’s meeting included:

State of the Organization (View a PDF here)
Presenters: KSU Foundation senior leadership

University Finance 101 (View a PDF here)
Presenter: Gen. Richard Myers, interim president, Kansas State University

Kansas Board of Regents luncheon presentation (View as PDF here)
Presenters: Blake Flanders, Kansas Board of Regents president/CEO

Center for Risk Management
Watch the videos from the presentation, or contact Emilie Fink at emilief@found.ksu.edu or 785.532.7571.

Here’s a look back in pictures of the meeting’s highlights:

Continue reading “A look back: the 2016 Fall Meeting”

Follow-up survey for the 2016 Annual Meeting

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Share your feedback, sign up to be a mentor!

We have changed up our post-meeting survey, and would like all Board of Trustees members — whether you attended the meeting or were unable to attend — to take our feedback survey!

In this survey
  • Give us meeting feedback if you attended
  • Share ideas for future session topics
  • Sign up for the KSU Foundation Trustee/Student Foundation Mentorship Program

For more information on the Trustee/Student Foundation Mentorship Program, you can download this fact sheet.

Thank you again for your support of Kansas State University. If you have any questions, please e-mail Jennifer Fabrizius.

New members elected to the KSU Foundation Board of Directors and Board of Trustees

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We elected four members to the board of directors and 45 members to the board of trustees at our annual meeting. These elections bring the total number of trustees to 315 individuals serving as Kansas State University’s premier advocates, ambassadors and investors. Continue reading “New members elected to the KSU Foundation Board of Directors and Board of Trustees”

Video round up: In case you missed it

Did you enjoy a video showcased at the Board of Trustee Meeting? Here, you can watch them all again — and share them with a friend!

Video highlights of Innovation and Inspiration Metro Events

A look back at our spring Innovation and Inspiration campaign events that took place in Houston, Denver and Dallas/Forth Worth.

Continue reading “Video round up: In case you missed it”

Save the Date: Spring Trustees Meeting 2017

Get ready for our Spring Board of Trustees meeting, scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2017 in Manhattan. We’re working hard to put together an extraordinary showcase that will enhance your experience as one of K-State’s premier advocates, ambassadors and investors. You’ll learn about the state of the university and the foundation, the challenges we face and the emerging opportunities where you can make a difference.

Watch your mailbox and your inbox for more information later this year. Questions, contact Jennifer Fabrizius at jenniferf@found.ksu or 785-532-7566.

Save the Date: Board of Trustees Fall Meeting 2016

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Get ready for our fall Board of Trustees meeting, scheduled for September 23, 2016 in Manhattan. We’re working hard to put together an extraordinary showcase that will enhance your experience as one of K-State’s premier advocates, ambassadors and investors. You’ll learn about the state of the university and the foundation, the challenges we face and the emerging opportunities where you can make a difference.

Watch your mailbox and your inbox for more information later this month. Questions, contact Jennifer Fabrizius at jenniferf@found.ksu or 785-532-7566.

Other upcoming events: A gathering in California
KSU Foundation will host a gathering in conjunction with the K-State vs. Stanford football game in Palo Alto, California on Thursday evening, September 1, at 6:30 p.m., at a location to be determined. We anticipate that space will be limited. An invitation will follow, but we encourage you to RSVP early to Charla Henry at rsvp@found.ksu.edu.

Continue reading “Save the Date: Board of Trustees Fall Meeting 2016”

Inspiring Houston, Denver and DFW!

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Attendees at the DFW Innovation and Inspiration Campaign event enjoyed photo opportunities with Willie. Photo by William Morton Visuals

More than 500 K-Staters in Texas and Colorado were inspired when the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign hit the road this spring, with events in Houston, Denver and DFW. Many thanks to all who attended these events and helped to make them a success!

Here’s a look at these extraordinary evenings.

Continue reading “Inspiring Houston, Denver and DFW!”

Innovation and Inspiration: the momentum continues!

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As of April 1, 2016, fundraising for the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign for K-State topped $845 million, moving us closer to our $1 billion goal for the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign and realizing K-State’s 2025 visionary plan. In fact, just 72 percent of the way into the the campaign, we are 85 percent to goal!

Later this spring, we’ll have even more occasion to celebrate this dynamic campaign: The Innovation and Inspiration Campaign is coming to Denver, Dallas and Fort Worth. Join your K-State family for a special evening with K-State leaders and students, learn more about the campaign and how you can make a difference at K-State.

Watch your mailbox and e-mail inbox for more details about these campaign events, or register online:

  • Denver on May 20, 2016, RSVP by May 13
  • Dallas on June 3, 2016, RSVP by May 27
  • Fort Worth on June 4, 2016, RSVP by May 27

If you have questions, please contact Chris Spooner, associate vice president of campaign and central development, at 785-532-7697 or chriss@found.ksu.edu.

A letter from Greg Willems regarding the departure of Kirk and Noel Schulz

Dear K-State family,greg-089r-2

I am sure many of your have heard that K-State’s first family, President Kirk Schulz and First Lady Noel Schulz, are leaving K-State for Washington State University. I wanted to provide you with some additional information on this transition, and what it will mean for K-State and KSU Foundation moving forward.

This was a personal career decision for Kirk and Noel, and they are choosing to leave K-State on exceptional terms. Their commitment to K-State, record of professional achievement and relationships on and off campus were outstanding.

While we regret the loss of great leaders and friends, this is a tremendous opportunity for K-State to build on our success the university has enjoyed under Kirk’s leadership. We will continue to build on this momentum as we work to identify K-State’s president, who will work with our faculty, staff and students to boldly advance K-State. Continue reading “A letter from Greg Willems regarding the departure of Kirk and Noel Schulz”

Reminder: Spring Board of Trustees meeting is April 15

Did you register online yet for the Board of Trustees spring meeting on Friday, April 15? We hope you can join your K-State family for a fun-filled time of innovation, inspiration and purple pride.

Highlights include:

  • Join us at 11:30 a.m. in the K-State Alumni Center for a luncheon and discussion around how K-State advocates, ambassadors and investors bring success to a facility initiative
  • State of the University: K-State 2025 Phase II from President Kirk Schulz
  • State of the KSU Foundation from Greg Willems, president and CEO
  • Innovation Showcase: how technology is helping faculty and students address college affordability
  • Inspiration Showcase: K-State Student Foundation leaders reflect on the history of their organization and the highly successful K-State Proud campaign they lead
  • A reception at the KSU Foundation building at 1800 Kimball Ave.
  • Landon Lecture Series, 7 p.m. in McCain Auditorium, featuring husband and wife political pundits John Avlon and Margaret Hoover
  • All-University Open House on Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a fun campuswide exhibition of K-State’s 250-plus majors and options, 475-plus student organizations and the family atmosphere that makes K-State great

Continue reading “Reminder: Spring Board of Trustees meeting is April 15”

K-State Proud campaign surpasses $1 million

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K-State Proud surpassed the $1 milllion mark this spring, with $1,030,000 raised and more than 520 students assisted since the student-led campaign began 10 years ago.

“The KSU Student Foundation and their K-State Proud campaign has created a level of engagement for student philanthropy that is second-to-none nationally,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “Surpassing their million-dollar goal validates the vision and hard work of this outstanding organization and the students who have offered their service. We’re proud to be working with them to build a culture of philanthropy that begins while they are students and will continue for a lifetime of supporting K-State.”

K-State Proud is a nationally recognized fundraising campaign for K-State. Guided by the leadership of the K-State Student Foundation, the campaign encourages students to show their K-State pride through philanthropy. All campaign donations support Student Opportunity Awards for fellow K-State students who have exhausted all other forms of financial aid.

Welcome, new KSU Foundation staff!

The KSU Foundation is proud to welcome the newest members of our team. morris_john_UMF

John Morris will begin working as the new senior vice president of development on April 25. Morris will lead all aspects of fundraising, working with foundation leadership, campus partners and the KSU Foundation board to strengthen the foundation’s overall fundraising capacity. In his previous position as senior director of development at the University of Minnesota Foundation, Morris led his development team to increase gift production by 60 percent.

Nicole Askew is the new director of development for University Programs. She has 15 years of development experience and most recently worked for the University of Illinois at the Chicago School of Business.

Amy Kreidler joins the foundation as an assistant director of development for the College of Engineering. Prior to joining the foundation, Kreidler worked as a business development manager for Lockheed Martin in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Continue reading “Welcome, new KSU Foundation staff!”

Innovation and Inspiration Campaign update

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Progress to date

Innovation and Inspiration Campaign’s fundraising total has risen to over $811 million toward our $1 billion goal (as of January 1, 2016). Thank you to all K-State alumni and friends for their generosity and support for the campaign, which will drive Kansas State University forward toward our strategic vision to become a top 50 public research university by 2025. To keep abreast of campaign fundraising progress, please visit the Innovation and Inspiration website, where we update our total monthly.

Save the date!

This spring, K-Staters in Houston, Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth will be invited to Innovation and Inspiration Campaign events. Like the campaign launch in October, these metropolitan events will feature the voices of K-State students, faculty and staff. Watch your mailbox and inbox for more details about these upcoming campaign events:

Houston
April 8, 2016

Denver
May 20, 2016

Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
June 3 and 4, 2016

If you have questions, please contact Chris Spooner, associate vice president of campaign and central development, at 785-532-7697 or chriss@found.ksu.edu.

K-State 2025: The next five years

K-State-2025-logo-250x123Five years into K-State’s 2025 plan, Kansas State University is reflecting on key accomplishments and refining the strategic metrics for the next five years of the university’s plan to become a top 50 public research university by the year 2025.

The university released its K-State 2025 Progress Report last fall, which highlighted the accomplishments of the plan to date. The President’s Cabinet is also working together to refine benchmarks and metrics that will guide progress toward the goal over the next five years.

“Much of the refinement underway is a reflection of the changing funding climate for public education in the state of Kansas and beyond, as well as concerns about the rising cost of public education for families,” said Greg Willems, KSU Foundation president and CEO, who is also a member of the President’s Cabinet. “The collaborative nature of this discussion — which includes myself and leaders from campus, K-State Alumni Association and K-State Athletics — is an essential component to moving this visionary plan forward.”

To learn more and stay up to date on the K-State 2025 plan, visit www.k-state.edu/2025.

Kansas State University Foundation holds ribbon-cutting for new office park

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The Kansas State University Foundation and Kansas State University celebrated the opening of the K-State Office Park on Friday, Dec. 4, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house. The new building is the first in a multiphase project that will fuel collaboration, philanthropic support and economic development in the North Campus Corridor.

On the corner of Kimball and Denison avenues, the first 60,000-square-foot building in th20151204_ksuf_event_0084e K-State Office Park offers a new home for the KSU Foundation and office space for corporations and industry.

“The KSU Foundation is honored to lead the development of the K-State Office Park,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “As K-State’s home for philanthropy, the new space honors and celebrates our generous donors and leaders in philanthropy, and it allows the KSU Foundation to grow and sustain philanthropy for Kansas State University well into the future. This activity is central to our role as a university foundation and will be a driving force in achieving K-State’s 2025 vision.”

Continue reading “Kansas State University Foundation holds ribbon-cutting for new office park”

Inspired by you: The Innovation and Inspiration Campaign launch

I&I-logo_PMS268 no taglineOn October 9, 2015, more than 1,000 purple-clad supporters witnessed a historic announcement in McCain Auditorium, and thousands more K-Staters heard the news via livestream or social media post: That K-State was launching the $1 billion Innovation and Inspiration Campaign, and that more than $766 million had been raised as of Sept. 30.

“The journey toward our 2025 vision takes another huge step forward tonight with the public launch of the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign,” Schulz said. “The tremendous generosity of alumni and friends who believe in Kansas State University’s future is truly the foundation for our success and the inspiration for this historic campaign.”

Continue reading “Inspired by you: The Innovation and Inspiration Campaign launch”

Join us! KSU Foundation Ribbon Cutting and Open House

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Please join us for the ribbon cutting and open house at the new home of the Kansas State University Foundation.

Friday, December 4, 2015
4-6 p.m.
1800 Kimball Avenue
Manhattan, Kansas

RSVP online or by calling 785-532-7093.

Questions? Contact Kate Ryan at 785-532-7559 or kater@found.ksu.edu

More on our new home
On Monday, Oct. 26, the Kansas State University Foundation relocated to the K-State Office Park, a 14-acre tract of land at the corner of Kimball and Denison avenues, Manhattan, which is adjacent to the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility site and the Grain Science and Industry Complex.

“Our move to the new location at the K-State Office Park is an important step in an exciting future for the KSU Foundation,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “The new facility will provide us with the office space needed to sustain fundraising for K-State well into the future. It will serve as the philanthropic home for K-State where donors will be recognized and celebrated for their generosity.”

Continue reading “Join us! KSU Foundation Ribbon Cutting and Open House”