Student Philanthropy and Grants Opportunities


At the University of Iowa, alumni and friends have built a culture of philanthropy that we call Hawkeyes Give Back. This represents a desire to contribute to campus and the world through time, talent, and treasure.

The idea of Hawkeyes Give Back is everywhere at Iowa—from learning in classrooms and researching in labs, to building state-of-the-art facilities and giving back in our communities.

We offer many opportunities for Hawkeyes to engage with philanthropy and learn how it positively impacts their college experience.


Upcoming Events

Rival Against Hunger Food Drive Competition: Sept. 3–13

Drop off a full-size food and/or hygiene item to help tackle hunger on our campus in a friendly competition against Iowa State.

Here’s how you can get in on the action:

  • Participate individually. Donate your food or hygiene item to any drop-off box around campus, including at the Food Pantry in the IMU. All items will go to the Food Pantry and count in our competition against Iowa State.
  • Form a team. Join forces with your UI student organization or department to support this great cause for a chance to win prizes. Register your group today!
  • Make a difference. Your donation helps Hawkeyes who lack regular access to nutritious food. Last year our campus contributed 1,746 food and toiletry items, helping more than 100 Hawkeyes receive an average of 16 pounds of food.

On Sept. 17, we’ll announce the winner of the Iowa vs. ISU competition (whichever school contributes the most items for their campus food pantry) as well as the winning student organizations and university departments on the Hawkeyes Give Back website.

Learn more in our contest guidelines—and register your team for a chance to win prizes!

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Holly Jones in advance at 319-467-3377 or holly.jones@foriowa.org.

Philanthropy Lecture Series

Each spring and fall, an Iowa alum or friend returns to campus to share their story about how they give back and empower others. These programs inspire students and the broader campus community to incorporate philanthropy into their lives.

Student Advancement Network

Current Iowa students who join the Student Advancement Network (SAN) serve as representatives of the student body for alumni and donors. Members also educate their peers about the importance of philanthropy and engagement, their different forms, and how they enhance the college experience.

For more information, follow SAN on Facebook and Instagram or email student.advancement@foriowa.org.

Student Impact Grants

Student Impact Grants provide funding for undergraduate and graduate student activities outside of the classroom, like research, travel, and service projects. The goal of the grant is to enable students to pursue opportunities that might not otherwise be possible without financial assistance. The grants are made possible by a partnership between the University of Iowa Office of the President and Student Advancement Network (SAN).

Volunteer Opportunities

Hawkeyes can give the gift of time by signing up for unique volunteer opportunities on campus, supporting areas such as Hancher and University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Fellowship and Internships

Iowa students and recent graduates are invited to apply for a yearlong post-grad fellowship or summer internship.

Williams Fellowship

In this one-year, full-time paid position with benefits, the Williams Fellow can “test drive” a career in philanthropy and alumni engagement by working at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. The fellow develops a better understanding of the organization by rotating through its various departments.

Applications are typically accepted starting in January with a February deadline.

Summer Internships

Summer internships provide a meaningful opportunity for Iowa students to learn about the impact alumni engagement and philanthropic support has on their university, while also exploring their career goals within a nonprofit or higher education setting. This eleven-week, full-time, paid experience provides opportunities for students with a variety of career aspirations.

Applications are typically accepted at the beginning of the spring semester.

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A veteran aims to update the Memorial Honor Roll, located inside the Iowa Memorial Union, with the names of students and alumni who died in military conflicts from Vietnam through today. Thousands of Hawkeyes have answered the call of duty during wartime?and some have made the ultimate sacrifice. These University of Iowa students and alumni include Nile Kinnick (40BA), a former halfback whose fighter plane crashed during training in World War II. While not everyone can have a stadium named in their honor, all soldiers deserve to be remembered. That's the premise behind a project that Iowa business graduate and retired Maj. Gen. Stewart Wallace (68BBA) is organizing. Born at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and raised in Britt, Iowa, Wallace joined the army immediately after graduating from Iowa in 1968?during the Vietnam War. He retired in 2001 after 33 years of military service and now volunteers as a military adviser with the Iowa Technology Institute. Wallace is working to update the memorial wall located inside the Iowa Memorial Union with the names of every UI student or graduate who died in the line of duty. The current display, located on the first floor, is missing the names of soldiers from Vietnam through recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It currently features listings from World War I, World War II, Korea, and some from Vietnam. "It's important to recognize the sacrifice of former students who gave their lives for this country," he says. "They should be recognized, and the IMU is the perfect place to do it." Wallace is working with staff in the Division of Student Life and the Office of the Registrar to cross-reference military death records of soldiers from Iowa and Illinois, but the team needs help and is calling on the families and friends of those who know a Hawkeye who died in the line of duty. "We need help, so we don't leave someone off the list?especially students and alumni from outside of Iowa or Illinois," he says. In 1919, UI President Walter Jessup (34LITTD) called for the construction of a student union dedicated to the memory of soldiers who died in World War I. Since then, the goal of the war memorial has been to honor any UI student or graduate who died while serving. Some names?such as Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, a Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in combat in Afghanistan?have been added to a digital honor roll, but the physical plaques haven't been updated since the 1970s. If you know any Hawkeyes who were killed or died while serving, especially those who were not from Iowa, submit their names to be included on the updated memorial. You can learn more about the IMU war memorial and its history by visiting its website.

Join us at one of our many events nation wide!

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