t is an exciting time for the City of Indianapolis, with 2025 being a year full of opportunity for our GIPC Member Organizations! To highlight the developments coming to the IUI Campus, we spoke with Joyce Rogers, one of our newest member representatives and Executive Vice President for Development, and IU Indianapolis Advancement for the Indiana University Foundation (IUF).

Access member profiles from previous months here. Have news you want shared? Let us know!

Joyce Rogers serves as the Executive Vice President, Development & IU Indianapolis Advancement. Reporting directly to the President & CEO of Indiana University Foundation (IUF), Joyce serves as an executive officer of the Foundation with primary responsibility for leading development and Advancement programs for Indiana University (IU). As a senior development officer, she works in collaboration with development and academic leaders across the university to provide fundraising leadership and direction.  Joyce is responsible for providing strategic oversight of the development function to help uphold IUF’s mission of maximizing private support for the university. Joyce also leads the design and execution of the new IU Indianapolis (IUI) Advancement office bringing to life the vision of Advancement at IU Indianapolis. She is working to help redefine philanthropic and community engagement standards, making a lasting and transformative impact on IU’s campus, community, and beyond.  

Can you share more about the history of the Indiana University Foundation?

We got our start in 1936, when a small group of alumni, friends, and Indiana University community members banded together to formalize the process of finding financial support for IU by creating the IU Foundation (IUF).

IUF maximizes private support for IU by fostering lifelong relationships with key stakeholders and providing advancement leadership and fundraising services for campuses and units across the university. Today, the IU Foundation oversees one of the largest public university endowments in the country. IU is consistently ranked among the top four of Big Ten universities in annual voluntary support.

What is the Foundation looking forward to most in the new year?

The IU Foundation looks forward to continuing support of IU 2030: The Indiana University Strategic Plan. For the greater Indianapolis area, this means building on our current capacity to support IU Indianapolis’s journey to newfound achievement, innovation, and global recognition. IUI will soon be an R1 and aspires to be the nation’s preeminent urban research university.

We look forward to more progress for IU and Indianapolis like the $138 million grant awarded from the Lilly Endowment. The grant will fund construction of a state-of-the-art facility for the IU LAB that will integrate education, research and development, and business incubation and acceleration at the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis. IU LAB will also offer educational programs for residents of neighboring communities and participate in 16 Tech’s Community Investment Fund, which provides grants to support opportunity and revitalization of neighborhoods near the 16 Tech Innovation District.

How can GIPC Board Members become more involved with IUF?

GIPC Board members can play a vital role in strengthening their relationships with Indiana University Indianapolis by helping to create partnerships that can foster economic development, innovation, social improvement, and philanthropic opportunities.  We look forward to engaging board members in opportunities areas such as:

Collaborative Research and Innovation

  • Support Research Projects: Leaders can fund or participate in university-led research initiatives aligned with community or industry needs.
  • Create Joint Innovation Hubs: Establish incubators or research centers that bridge university expertise and industry needs.
  • Promote Internships and Co-op Programs: Offer students opportunities for hands-on experience in local businesses or government organizations.

Economic and Workforce Development

  • Align Curriculum with Industry Needs: Partner with Indiana University Indianapolis to design programs that prepare students for emerging job markets and ensure that they remain in this community.
  • Sponsor Workforce Training Programs: Collaborate on reskilling or upskilling initiatives to support local workers.
  • Support Startups and Entrepreneurship: Provide funding or mentorship for university-affiliated startups or student entrepreneurs.

Community Engagement

  • Participate in Advisory Boards: Join university boards or committees to help guide academic programs and community outreach efforts.
  • Collaborate on Community Projects: Work with the university on initiatives like affordable housing, public health, or environmental sustainability.
  • Host Public Events and Workshops: Partner with the university to organize events addressing community concerns or providing educational opportunities.

Advocacy and Policy Support

  • Champion Higher Education Funding: Advocate for public policies that support the university’s mission and growth.
  • Promote Access: Work with the university to address barriers to education.

Philanthropy and Sponsorship

  • Provide Scholarships and Grants: Offer financial assistance for students to help address barriers to higher education ensuring that opportunities are accessible to students regardless of their backgrounds.
  • Sponsor Facilities and Programs: Assist in finding resources to fund the development of research labs, community centers, or specific academic programs in support of the Indianapolis community.

Communication and Networking

  • Organize Joint Forums: Host roundtables or conferences to discuss local challenges and opportunities with university leaders.
  • Leverage Networks: Use connections to foster partnerships between the university and external organizations.

Civic Engagement and Leadership Development

  • Engage Students in Civic Projects: Provide opportunities for students to contribute to local governance or community initiatives.
  • Develop Leadership Programs: Create mentoring or leadership training programs involving university students and faculty.

By fostering strong, mutually beneficial relationships with urban universities, GIPC board members can help drive community transformation while benefiting from the university’s resources, research, and talent pool.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I am excited to work alongside this board to do all that we can to ensure that our city is one of the best in the nation!