Principal Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to the University of Iowa

PHOTO: Office of strategic communication

Principal Foundation, a global nonprofit organization committed to helping people and communities build financially secure futures in communities where Principal operates, has awarded a $1 million grant to help the University of Iowa remain accessible and affordable for future generations of students. This unrestricted support will allow university leaders to address areas of greatest need on campus.

“At Principal Foundation, we are committed to breaking barriers to create opportunities and providing financial resources that will help people build brighter futures for themselves,” says Jo Christine Miles, director, Principal Foundation, and Community Relations. “The University of Iowa has a proven track record of student success, and we’re proud to invest in those efforts as a flagship organization in the State of Iowa.”

Among the university’s student-success initiatives is its First Gen Hawks program. One in five UI students are the first in the family to attend college. Programs like First Gen Hawks provide mentoring and experiential learning that equips students to successfully navigate their college journey, graduate, and launch into careers.

The University of Iowa is one of only three members of the Association of American Universities serving populations of more than 20,000 students that accepts 80% of its college-ready applicants and retains 90% or more of its students from first to second year.

“Principal Foundation and Principal have been long-term partners in supporting Iowa students through scholarships and other forms of philanthropy,” says Lynette Marshall, president and chief executive officer of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. “We are grateful for their interest in advancing the University of Iowa. This most recent gift will allow the University of Iowa to do what it does best: make a high-quality college education attainable.”

While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, 501(c)(3) charitable entity.

To learn more about how your corporation or foundation can support the University of Iowa, contact Kelley Krueger, executive director of corporate and foundation relations at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, at kelley.krueger@foriowa.org.