Leaders of Clark College, U of I Foundations Recognized for Contributions to IRF Field
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A community college foundation president who led her institution to "incredible growth and success" and a university foundation COO known for her "strong leadership and vision" are the 2018 recipients of the CASE Commonfund Institutionally Related Foundation Awards.
Lisa Gibert, CEO of Clark College Foundation, and Tiffani Shaw, executive vice president and COO of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, will be recognized for their contributions at the 26th annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations, April 18-20, in Miami.
Institutionally related foundations are nonprofit organizations that cultivate and manage private assets to support the missions of the colleges and universities with which they are affiliated. These prestigious awards recognize professionals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement, quality and effectiveness of their foundations and the sector.
Gibert (pictured above on the left) began her career at Clark College in 1998 as CFO and was appointed president and CEO of the foundation in 2005. In 2018, her title was updated to CEO. Under her leadership, the foundation's total assets have grown from $48 million to more than $100 million, a rare fundraising accomplishment for community colleges. In addition, Gibert has overseen historic growth of the foundation's endowment, from $51 million to $63 million, and guided the college's first comprehensive campaign that raised $27 million, more than $7 million over goal.
In his letter of support, Clark College President Robert Knight wrote: "Whether it is building a strong board of directors, implementing effective advancement infrastructure or supporting good governance, Lisa's expertise and knowledge have brought us to this momentous occasion in time where the foundation's significant asset base continues to transform the quality of education at Clark College."
Shaw (pictured above on the right) joined the University of Iowa Foundation in 1997, and as executive vice president and COO, she oversees the organization's total assets, which exceed $1.5 billion, as well as all operations departments. Highlights of her commitment to the University of Iowa, her alma mater, include her leadership in closing the institution's historic nearly $2 billion fundraising campaign. She also was a critical leader in shepherding the recent merger of the U of I Foundation and the alumni association to create the University of Iowa Center for Advancement.
In her letter of support, President and CEO Lynette Marshall wrote, "It is common to hear ‘what if' from Tiffani as she is known for being innovative, strategic and driven to succeed. Her business insight and thoughtful problem-solving skills make her a standout leader."
Both Gibert and Shaw are active members of CASE.
The awards are underwritten by Commonfund, which provides fund management services and investment advice to nonprofit organizations.
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