IWU Accepts $3 Million Challenge from Lilly Endowment
By Alan Miller
7/19/05

Indiana Wesleyan University has accepted a challenge from Lilly Endowment to raise $3 million. If the campaign is successful, IWU will qualify for $4.5 million in matching funds from the Indianapolis-based Endowment.

The latest challenge is a reprise of earlier successful efforts.

In 2002, the Endowment challenged Indiana colleges and universities to raise funds for needed academic purposes through the Initiative to Strengthen Board Commitment and the Special Initiative to Strengthen Philanthropy for Indiana Higher Education Institutions.

As a result of the earlier initiatives, which ended Dec. 31, 2003, IWU board members contributed $1 million to qualify for a $1 million Endowment match. Other IWU constituencies, primarily alumni, donated $5.37 million to qualify for $3.5 million in matching Endowment funds.

"We were so pleased with the results of these efforts and hope that this second phase will build on that momentum," said Sara B. Cobb, Endowment, vice president for education. "It appears that the matching aspect of the initiatives helped these schools raise more funds from their boards of directors, staff and faculty, students, parents, alumni and friends."

The amount of matching funds in the latest campaign was based on the success of individual colleges in the 2002 initiatives. IWU was one of only 14 colleges in Indiana to qualify for the maximum matching grant - based on $1.50 in Endowment funds for every $1 raised by the University.

All funds must be raised by Dec. 31, 2006.

"The Endowment continues to believe that there is a strong correlation between giving and engagement," Ms. Cobb said. "Those who give generously to a school tend to pay attention to its vitality and effectiveness. Such support and engagement can only strengthen Indiana's colleges and universities."

Alan Miller is the University Relations Director at Indiana Wesleyan University.