Kansas State University Foundation

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.

Dear K-State family,

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” →

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 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.

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

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!” →

Reports from standing committees were given by their respective chairs. Click on the committee name to see the full report.

Governance: Mike Goss
Finance and Audit: Carl Ice
Asset Management: Stephen Lacy
Development: Mary Vanier