The Kansas State University Foundation was established in 1944 as the official fundraising arm of Kansas State University. The foundation is a separate, independent organization chartered by the state of Kansas as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education corporation. Gifts made to support K-State through the KSU Foundation are used according to the donor’s wishes, and may not be reallocated by the state. Gifts to the foundation are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
A volunteer board of trustees governs the foundation. A 14-member executive committee elected from the membership of the board meets quarterly and is authorized to act on the trustees’ behalf.
Our foundation staff members work in close partnership with university administrators, deans and faculty members to raise money to support identified priorities for the university. Because most K-State alumni are likely to maintain a personal interest in their college, our fundraising program is organized according to the nine academic colleges, with some staff dedicated to programs that interface with all colleges. Program and administrative support is provided by a staff of professionals who work in accounting, research, donor relations, communications, information systems, internal operations and human resources.
After the money is raised, it must be prudently managed. This function is managed by foundation staff members who work under the guidance of an advisory committee of trustees. The expansion of the foundation’s fundraising operation during the past 10 years, combined with significant growth in the assets of the foundation, have placed added emphasis on the investment and performance of the real estate and investment holdings of the foundation.
Three words: people, passion and philanthropy. When people who are passionate about K-State care enough to share their resources, you have philanthropy. And it’s philanthropy that can make the difference between a dream that comes true and a dream that never gets a chance.
We thank you for your continued confidence in our great university, and pledge that your contributions will be stewarded with care.
Alumni and friends of Kansas State University contributed $81.5 million to K-State through the KSU Foundation during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2009. Read more about how we are doing.