Welcome to FundISU, Iowa State University's crowdfunding platform that turns innovation into impact. Your gift can help bring new initiatives to life, support students and faculty, and advance Iowa State’s mission to create, share, and apply knowledge that makes Iowa and the world a better place.
Projects
Engineers Without Borders 2026
By Engineers Without Borders ISU
Help EWB build a medical clinic to serve the Ullo-Dantie community.
Help EWB build a medical clinic to serve the Ullo-Dantie community. Engineers Without Borders ISU Generous donors have offered a 1:1 match for the first $7,500 contributed to double your impact and help EWB-ISU continue building a medical clinic to serve the Ullo-Dhantie community. Thank you for your support! This Year's Fundraising Priorities: Last year's successful fundraising effort put us over the top for installing the roof on the Urgent Care & Administration building of the poly clinic. We expect roof construction to take place while our travel team is in Ullo in January 2027. The fundraising priorities for this year are: First of two water towers needed at the clinic that will also allow community members to fetch water for their homes while clinic construction continues. Cost estimate $20,000 Solar-powered borehole on the Ullo Senior High School compound to disconnect the school water distribution from that of the clinic. Cost estimate $10,000 Securing the clinic building window and door openings after roof installation to restrict and secure access to the structure. Cost estimate $5,000 Implementing all three of these priorities as a result of this year's fundraising campaign will be a stretch goal. If we achieve it, then we can focus next year's campaign on installing the electrical and plumbing systems, and then the following year on finishing the inside of the clinic. Still a ways to go but getting closer to our goal of making the Ullo poly clinic a reality for the people of the Ullo Traditional Area. Who is EWB-ISU? Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a nonprofit humanitarian organization established to support community-driven development programs worldwide through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects, while providing transformative experiences for university students that enrich global perspectives and create responsible leaders. EWB-ISU is a student-led organization at Iowa State University consisting of about 60 students. Since 2014, our chapter has partnered with the Ullo Traditional Area, in the Upper West Region of Ghana, to plan, design, and implement sustainable solutions that respect and engage local knowledge and practices. Our first project in Ullo was implementing a mechanized, solar-powered borehole that has been pumping 20,000 L of water per day for the past eight years into storage tanks next to the boys and girls dorms of the Ullo Senior High boarding school. Up to 1,000 students no longer have to fetch water early mornings and late aftenoons from off-campus boreholes for the school kitchen and their personal hygiene. Since then, our partnership has resulted in: Engineering solution for community-built dam spillway that now holds water in the reservoir and allows the community to produce vegetables in downstream gardens well into the dry season thanks to partnering with Self-Help International. Partnership with Self-Help International in locating and staffing an office in the Jirapa Municipal District that serves the Ullo Traditional Area through training and microcredit loans to smallholder farmers. Partnership with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) and collaboration on bilateral project implementation in Ullo with their EWB-KNUST student chapter. Improved cook stoves in the school kitchen that reduce smoke inhalation and heat exposure of female staff thanks to partnering with KNUST. Rainwater catchment and micro-irrigation system for school garden that allows hands-on learning of vegetable production in the school's agriculture curriculum. Conversion of two unused septic tanks into temporary latrines for female students who no longer have to relieve themselves in the bushes. Conversion of one unused septic tank into a temporary latrine for male students who no longer have to relieve themselves in the open behind the boys dorm. Solar water heating system that preheats cooking water for the school kitchen and cuts back on the unsustainable use of large quantities of firewood thanks to partnering with Design Engineers and ASHRAE grant funds. Solar panels and battery back-up for boys dorm that powers new lights and ceiling fans to improve security and comfort levels in shared bedrooms thanks to partnering with Design Engineers and ASHRAE grant funds. Partnership with Design Engineers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, mentoring student teams in the design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for the clinic project. Refurbished laptop computers for the high school’s IT department that allows students to learn keyboarding and access basic computer software. Near completion of the water distribution system on the grounds of the Ullo Senior High boarding school connecting three on-site wells (two solar-powered, one grid-powered) to the original tanks at the dorms and kitchen plus additional tanks and standpipes near classrooms and staff bungalows that provides water access to all students, staff and teachers throughout campus. Once complete, it will free up our original well to supply the new clinic (via two water towers), and for both systems (school and clinic) to back each other up should any of the four wells go down. Planning, design, fundraising, site preparation and Phase 1 and 2 construction of a new poly clinic that will improve health care delivery in the Ullo Traditional Area. What is the Ullo poly clinic project? During our visit in 2018-19 we learned that the current clinic in Ullo is insufficient in meeting the needs of the community. The clinic consists of five rooms in two buildings and a temporary waiting room structure, which is insufficient to provide adequate healthcare. The maternity ward consists of a converted staff apartment and is not capable of handling multiple births at the same time. The clinic is also in high demand during malaria season. Community members expressed that the lack of access to adequate healthcare has resulted in the unnecessary deaths of too many community members. Since the start of our project, the clinic now has a doctor on staff in anticipation of the new poly clinic coming online. Most medical emergencies require a 45-minute trip to St. Joseph Hospital in Jirapa on roads that during the rainy season are not always passable. Upon return, the 2018-19 travel team presented this need to the EWB-ISU chapter membership as the next project to partner on with the Ullo Traditional Area. The year was spent exploring the possibility, developing an initial concept, and securing permission from EWB-USA and the ISU College of Engineering administration to undertake such an ambitious project. The 2019-20 travel team presented the concept to the leaders and members of the Ullo community, and government officials of the Jirapa Municipal District and Ghana Health Service. Five potential sites the community had identified were evaluated, and a recommendation of the most suitable site presented to the Ullo Paramount Chief and his Council. The recommendation was accepted, and letters of commitment were secured. The Ullo Paramount Chief agreed in writing for the community to raise $5,000 in materials and supplies to prepare the site and start work on the foundation. The Chief Executive and Assembly of the Jirapa Municipal District committed to supplying furnishings and medical supplies once the clinic was completed. The district’s Ghana Health Service Directorate committed to staffing, equipping and operating the clinic. In the spring of 2020, the membership of the EWB-ISU student organization voted to move forward with the planning, design, fundraising and construction of a new medical clinic in Ullo-Dantie. This new clinic is envisioned to provide the facilities that will allow the district’s health service meet the medical needs of the Ullo Traditional Area including the students of the Ullo Senior High boarding school and about 15,000 people living in Ullo-Dantie and 28 other nearby communities. The new clinic will have a walk-in urgent care building with waiting and consultation rooms and a pharmacy plus an attached maternity ward wing and a 16-bed overnight observation and recovery wing. The construction and completion of the clinic have been broken down into multiple phases over several years. Ground-breaking and site preparation took place in the summer of 2022. Thanks to the generous support of our donors and fundraising efforts by EWB-ISU students, we initiated construction of the foundation for the entire clinic in 2023 (Phase 1) and completed construction of the main building superstructure in 2024 (Phase 2). Pictures and videos of the progress can be seen in the image carousel above. The next phase of construction is the roof for the first wing which thanks to more than two years of successful fundraising efforts will be installed in early 2027. To see a rendition of what the final structure will look like, please take a look at the image below. The 2024-25 travel team met with representatives of the roofing company, reviewed plans for the roof structure, and obtained an updated budget estimate and design drawings. In spring of 2025, we invested additional funds to add columns to the superstructure in preparation for the third phase which is to add the roof on the main building. In 2026 we invested additional funds to build up end walls for the U-shaped roof structure that will enclose and secure the roof once installed in early 2027. To see a rendition of what the final structure will look like, please take a look at the image below. If we meet (or ideally exceed) our stated FundISU goal for this year, we should be able to initiate the three stated priorities soon after the 2026-27 travel team returns from Ullo in January. Supporting the progress of this project is an investment in improving the overall healthcare and quality of lives and livelihoods in the Ullo Traditional Area. Boarding school students and community members will be able to access the new poly clinic for urgent care needs, medicine, vaccines, maternal and infant health, and physical and mental health care consultation. Improving the health of community members is a major step in promoting the development of a more sustainable and prosperous society. You can be part of Ullo's growth by enabling EWB-ISU to support their needs through this poly clinic project! Learn more about us on our website or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook! Website: EWB-ISU | stu.org LinkedIn: EWB-ISU | LinkedIn Facebook: EWB-ISU | Facebook Instagram: EWB-ISU | Instagram
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Psychology Club 2026
By Psychology Club
Help the Psychology Club raise money for their yearly trip to the Midwest Psychosocial Association conference!
Help the Psychology Club raise money for their yearly trip to the Midwest Psychosocial Association conference! Psychology Club Who are we and what do we do? Psychology Club provides its members with the opportunity to connect with other psychology students and faculty, develop their professional skills, and enhance their learning opportunities outside of the classroom. We welcome all students, including psychology majors, minors, and those simply interested in learning more about the field. Our club's goal is to provide members with both fun and educational meetings, covering a wide range of topics. During this fall semester, our emphasis is on introducing our members to the various opportunities available at Iowa State and allowing students to connect with each other and faculty. Some of the meetings we have planned so far are Meet the Psychology Professors, Psychology Trivia Night, and True Crime Explored Through Forensic Psychology! What is the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference? The MPA conference is an incredible opportunity for our members to take part in! It takes place over the course of 3 days (April 15-17th for 2027) at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL. The purpose of this conference is to share the latest research across all domains of psychology. It features exclusive talks and discussions from leading psychologists from all across the United States, poster presentations allowing students to share research from their universities, and networking events to connect with other psychology students and faculty. The conference brings together students, professionals, scholars, and practitioners who want to share their research, learn about other fields of study, and connect with others who have similar interests! https://midwesternpsych.org What events and activities can students attend? Talks and Speakers: The conference features exclusive keynote addresses and engaging talks that students can attend. They are delivered by many of the most respected and innovative psychologists in the United States, each sharing their latest findings and insights. Workshops: MPA offers hands-on workshops focused on strengthening the teaching of psychology, refining research methods, and mastering advanced statistics, giving attendees practical tools they can take back to their own classrooms and laboratories. Papers and Presentations: Throughout the conference, students can explore papers and poster presentations that cover an impressive variety of topics in psychology, from cutting-edge experimental research to applied practices in diverse settings. How do students benefit from attending MPA? Students who attend the MPA conference have the opportunity to network with hundreds of industry professionals, improve their professional skills, and learn about the many different topics of research that are being studied by other students. Any student who is in a research lab at Iowa State can also showcase the research that they have assisted with and gain valuable presenting experience! Thank you! Your generous donation will go towards transportation and hotel expenses for students who will be attending the 2027 MPA Conference in Chicago, Illinois. With your support, Psychology Club students can have the opportunity to learn more about the different fields within psychology research! Get connected! Learn more about the Iowa State Psychology Club meetings, activities, and MPA on our Instagram page @psychclubisu! Or feel free to contact anyone under the "Project Owners" section on this page. Our ISU Student Organization Website: https://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/psych If you have questions or would like to discuss your gift with an ISU Foundation staff member, please email fundisu@foundation.iastate.edu or call 515-294-8616.
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Student Affairs Graduate Association 2026
By SAGA
Help the Student Affairs Graduate Association plan events and attend professional development opportunities!
Help the Student Affairs Graduate Association plan events and attend professional development opportunities! SAGA Meet the SAGA Team! Hi y'all! We are the SAGA executive board! Thank you to all who have supported our program so far! Our program is unique in that it is designed for graduate students and their success, and we are a small but dedicated program. Each of us works on campus for an assistantship, but many do not provide enough professional development funds for conferences. Our organization aims to raise funds for professional development opportunities that align with our program. We would not be who we are without our support systems and our excellent alumni network. Thank you for supporting us, whether it's through financial contributions, online shares, or general moral support. We appreciate all of you! Who We Are The Student Affairs Graduate Association is an organization run by graduate students in the Master's Program in Student Affairs. The purpose of this organization is to bring together the two-year cohorts to discuss current topics and issues in the Student Affairs world, share our experiences within the program, and support one another throughout our time at Iowa State. Why We Are Fundraising We aim to raise funds to offer more and better professional development opportunities, including conferences, guest speakers, and panel discussions. This is important to us, as we continually seek opportunities for our master's students to expand their knowledge and enhance their skills as Student Affairs professionals. Our cross-cohort days provide an opportunity for us to visit other colleges and universities, gain exposure to various student affairs programs, and experience how structures function on different campuses. Meet the Faculty To better understand the work we do, we'd like to introduce our faculty members and their areas of study. Dr. Ann Gansemer-Topf Ann M. Gansemer-Topf, Ph.D. (she/her), is the Director of the School of Education and Frances S. and Arthur L. Wallace Professor. Her research focuses on the micro (student) and macro (institutional, state, and federal) factors contributing to student success. She is also interested in using assessment methods to understand best practices for effective teaching and learning and program implementation. Dr. Robert Reason Robert D. Reason, Ph.D. (he/him) is Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs; he also serves as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs for the College of Human Sciences. Before assuming his current position at ISU, he was a faculty member at Penn State University from 2003-2011 and a research scientist at Penn State’s Center for the Study of Higher Education. Dr. Reason brings expertise in multi-institutional studies of student success, particularly the success of first-year students Dr. Rachel Smith Rachel A. Smith, Ph.D. (she/her), is Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs and is currently serving as the Director of Graduate Education in the School of Education. She is interested in student transitions and practices that engage students in learning with their peers, faculty, and staff. Her research focuses on how colleges and universities can design environments where students form networks of academic and social relationships that facilitate involvement, learning, and success in college and afterward. Dr. TJ Stewart Terah (TJ) Stewart, Ph.D. (he/him), is Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs and the Student Affairs Program Coordinator. His research and writing focus on people and populations who are hyper-marginalized and/or those who have stigmatized identities. Specifically, he explores the realities of college students with stigmatized identities, including how identity informs their outcomes and structural barriers to their success and well-being. He also studies identity-based student activism and power-conscious approaches to research. Dr. Lindsay Jarrat Lindsay Jarratt, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Higher Education and Student Affairs. She has 15 years of experience in student affairs and administration, including in residence life and assessment. Her research employs a sociological lens to examine how higher education structures and practices shape student experiences. She teaches classes on administration, academic issues, and student development. This is Lindsay's first year at Iowa State University; she is joining us from the University of Iowa but is excited to be a Cyclone!
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