Giving Options

The DMU Development Office subscribes to the following "Donor Bill of Rights," which is endorsed by the American Association of Fund-Raising Council, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, the Council for Advancement in Support of Education (CASE), and the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives (NSFRE).

Donor Bill of Rights

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, it is declared that all donors have theses rights:

To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purpose.
To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers or employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.

* "A Donor Bill of Rights," CASE, 1994

The Annual Fund

The Campaign for Academic Excellence, or annual fund, is an ongoing programthat contributes to the general operating fund of Des Moines University. The annual fund provides revenue from sources other than student tuition,net patient revenues, and investments.

The annual fund includes gifts from the broad DMU community: alumni, faculty and staff, members of the board of trustees, and friends. Approximately 60 percent of faculty and staff contribute to the annual fund, and 100 percent of board members participate.

Annual gifts are welcomed throughout the year. Every gift is appreciated and carries a positive impact. Gifts from alumni, faculty, staff, and friends send a positive message to students that a caring community ofsupportersis behind them.

Program-specific gifts

Program-specific gifts allow you to designate a college or program of your choice. Each of the colleges and programs has needs and interests that may not be fully funded through the general operating budget, so designated giving allows you to have a direct hand in helping the program of your choice.

Unrestricted gifts

Unrestricted gifts help fund high-priority programs, capital equipment purchases, and other needs at DMU. The advantage of an unrestricted gift is that decision-making is left to those at Des Moines University best acquainted with the objectives outlined in the strategic plan and thus already identified as funding priorities.

Planned Giving

Planned giving, which can be a component of estate planning, is an option many donors prefer because of flexibility and tax advantages. Planned giving allows donors to include not-for-profit organizations in their long-term goals and estate planning.Here are some options:

Bequest through your will
Life Insurance Policies
Retirement Plan Assets
Annuities
Charitable Remainder Unitrust
Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust

Library Fund

The DMU Library has become a regional and national resourceâ€”a "net lender" whose resources are sought by hospitals and academic institutions and health centers nationwide. Gifts designated toward the library help purchase books and periodicals.

The library's Buy A Book Campaign allows you to make a modest gift in honor or memory of a respected individual or loved one. With the purchase of a new book for $100 or more, a bookplate is affixed to the inside cover of the book and carries the name of the individual you want to recognize.

Naming Opportunities

Alumni and friends can leave a personal legacy through naming opportunitiesthroughout the campus.While preserving the memory of someone affiliated with DMU, naming opportunities are a tangible reminder for students and visitors that DMU has made a positive and lasting impact on others.

Student Scholarships

Scholarships are important for several reasons. They help attract high-achieving students. In turn this attracts even more high-achieving students and faculty. Scholarships allow us to generate and build interest in specific academic disciplines or practice areas, such as rural medicine. And they allow us to increase diversity(link to Glanton Scholarship) on campus.

Endowed Scholarship Funds

You can designate your gift toward the general scholarship fund, to a specific college or program, or to any of the endowed scholarship fundsoutlined by specific criteria. Endowed funds continue in perpetuity; a small portion of the principal is distributed each year as scholarships while the fund continues to grow through investments.

Glanton Scholarship

The Glanton Scholarship was established to help minority and disadvantaged students manage the cost of an education in medicine or the health sciences. The scholarship is supported through an annual donor banquet held locally and composed of a broad cross-section of representatives from local business, medical, legal, and ethnically diverse communities.

Make a Gift Now

Contact Us