About the Educational Leadership Foundation

Founded in 1994 during the presidency of Charles Schroeder, the purpose of the ACPA Educational Leadership Foundation (501c3 non-profit organization) is "to enhance the student affairs profession and to generate and disseminate knowledge of college students at all levels within higher education" (Article Three of the Articles of Incorporation). The organization is now known as the ACPA Foundation to more concisely communicate its role as the fundraising arm of ACPA College Student Educators International.  

The most compelling interest of the ACPA Foundation is the preparation of students for leadership roles in society. The essential work of the ACPA Foundation is to seek philanthropic support for ACPA initiatives involving research, scholarship, professional development, and leadership programs, as well as its own related initiatives. Such initiatives may focus specifically on students or on student affairs professionals.  

The Foundation's focus on students includes projects that will enrich knowledge about formal and informal student learning, especially in out-of-class environments, about specific educational tactics that accelerate learning such as community service, and about strategic opportunities for learning such as peer group interactions.  

The Foundation's focus on student affairs' professionals includes projects that will enhance student affairs practitioners' educational influence by assisting new or transitional professionals to make important connections and commitments while visualizing future roles in the profession, by sustaining a learning community of professionals, and by expanding theoretical knowledge of the profession.

Essentially, the mission of the ACPA Foundation is to encourage activities that generate and disseminate new knowledge in the Student Affairs profession and that prepare students for leadership roles in a global society. In order to fulfill its purpose and mission, the Foundation seeks philanthropic support for ACPA initiatives involving research, scholarship, professional development and leadership programs.

Current Sources of Revenue:

•  The Foundation is pleased to report that annual financial support provided by the 24 members of its Board of Trustees, as well as support obtained from corporate partners, covers all operating expenses of the organization , allowing donations to the Foundation from individual donors to be directly allocated to one of the programmatic initiatives of the Foundation and the Foundation endowment.

•  Since 2000, the Diamond Honoree program has been an important source of new dollars for the Foundation, accounting for approximately $105,000.  

•  Income sources and fundraising efforts of the ACPA Foundation include an annual campaign across the entire ACPA membership, corporate philanthropic programs, interest generated from a growing endowment, annual recognition events, special activities, and estate planning.

•  Within the past three years, the Foundation has begun to reach out to corporate friends and has appreciated the support received by several friends who have helped fund some of the Foundation's activities. The Corporate Partnership program is one which not only will help to provide resources that will enable us to realize our goals, but will also provide a twofold benefit to our corporate friends. First, our partnership provides our corporate partners with an opportunity to invest resources into programs and activities that complement their philanthropic goals; and, second, the program offers them an opportunity to become associated with a Foundation that is eager to share its wide knowledge of student issues and concerns. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of students .

Funds Generated to Date Support:

•  About Campus - Between 2000 and 2002, the Foundation provided $2,000 annually to assist with the training of the editorial staff of the magazine, for a total of $6,000.

•  Annuit Coeptis - For each of the last six years, the Foundation has provided approximately $2,500 for the convention activities of this organization, which annually recognizes senior and emerging professionals who have been or have benefited from a mentor during their years in higher education. (Approximate Total = $15,000)

•  The Foundation's Grants Program - Since 2001, the Grants Program has provided funding in support of 20 research or educational programs for which an ACPA member has been the principal investigator. Over these years, the Foundation's Grants Program has awarded approximately $70,000 in grants.

•  General Support of ACPA - Annually, ACPA receives $12,000 from the Foundation for programmatic initiatives as determined by the Association leadership.

•  Growing the Endowment - Over the years, the Foundation has continued to invest a portion of its income into an endowment that now stands at nearly $320,000.

•  Expenses Associated with Initiatives of the Foundation - During the past two years, and with the assistance of a consultant, the Foundation designed new print materials, developed its own web site, contracted with a planned giving firm to provide members with information regarding deferred/planned giving, and outsourced the management of its web site and its donor database and financial management to an association management firm.

ACPA Foundation Goals:

•  Support the development and implementation of educational and leadership initiatives of the Association. Current plans include providing funds to support such activities as: a two to three day institute for Multicultural Competence in Student Affairs; and, research that leads to the preparation of manuscripts for publication.

•  Develop a "Making a Difference in the Lives of Students" video library and recognition program for Student Affairs professionals or faculty members who have been identified by students, alumni, and parents as people who have made a difference in the life of students.

•  Improve the Association's awareness and appreciation of our Diamond Honorees whose contributions to the field have been honored each year. Plans are underway to develop several visual presentations of all Diamond Honorees that can be used on our web site, and by Association groups to honor the leaders of our profession.

•  Increase resources available to the Grants Program with the goal of increasing the dollars available for grants from the current $10,000 per year to $30,000 per year by 2010.

•  Maintain and enhance the Foundation web site to continue the donor e-newsletter; expand on-line information about the Foundation's Grants Program to include an on-line application capability and summaries of all grants already funded; and add a Corporate Partner page.

•  Grow the Foundation endowment to $500,000 by 2010.

•  Identify and implement ways to celebrate the 85 th anniversary of ACPA and the 15 th anniversary of the ACPA Foundation. ACPA will be 85 years old and the Foundation will be 15 years old in 2009! The Foundation is making plans now to celebrate both of these important anniversaries.