Overview
The Indiana University Foundation raises private gifts and manages them for Indiana University and its campuses. It invests the endowment in a diversified mix (public equities, private equity, venture capital, real estate, and other alternatives) to earn long-term returns, and spends about 4.5% annually to fund scholarships, faculty, and research while preserving principal. In 2025 it raised over $544 million and runs campaigns like Never Daunted to expand scholarships, research, and community impact. It differentiates itself by serving as IU’s designated steward of private gifts, leveraging its scale, investment discipline, and donor-relations to provide steady support for the university’s mission.
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What believers are saying
- Fiscal 2025 donors gave $544.5 million, showing strong giving despite campus controversy.
- September 2026 brought a $100 million Kelley gift and a $10 million neuro-oncology gift.
- November 2026 campaign stats show 227,065 donors and 46,405 scholarship-supported students.
What critics are saying
- Indiana politics and trustee removals already alienate donors like Jim Fielding in 2026.
- Heavy dependence on large gifts makes one cancelled donor relationship hit campaign momentum fast.
- If donor trust erodes further, Never Daunted stalls and IU Foundation’s funding engine weakens.
What makes Indiana University Foundation unique
- IU Foundation runs a $4.2 billion endowment with a strict 4.5% annual payout.
- Never Daunted combines fundraising and alumni engagement across every Indiana University campus.
- IU Foundation channels donor-restricted capital into scholarships, research, and professorships at scale.
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