At the Alumni Leaders Conference last June, we announced that the IU Alumni Association and IU Foundation would review their relationship and consider the question of whether the two organizations should merge. Today, we share news that a merger of IUAA and IUF is NOT necessary.

An “Alignment Advisory Committee” involving three members of the IUAA Board of Managers, three members of the IU Foundation Board of Directors, and one alumni volunteer met twice with IUAA CEO JT. Forbes and IUF CEO Dan Smith. The group was very thoughtful and put the best interests of Indiana University at the forefront of its deliberations.

After the second meeting, it was determined that the two entities will remain separate nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities with separate governing boards. Each organization will continue to operate with their separate missions, public identities, and branding. The current funding arrangements each organization has with IU are not expected to change.

The two organizations will expand their current agreement, such that IUF will provide IUAA the services IUAA currently receives from IU. This agreement will be built off IUAA’s existing agreement with IU.

This approach can enhance collaboration, efficiency, innovation, and responsiveness. The decision not to merge preserves the focus, trust, and sovereignty of the two separate enterprises, which have complementary missions and serve overlapping constituencies.

An “Alignment Working Group” involving JT. Forbes from IUAA and Philippa Guthrie and Kathy Gutowsky from the IU Foundation are coordinating due diligence and planning related to the agreement, which we hope to have in place for implementation July 1, 2015.

We will keep you posted as we move forward.

JT.