IVMA Foundation

Iowa Veterinary Medical Association Foundation
The purpose for which the Foundation is organized is to receive gifts and property to be used for the advancement of veterinary medicine and the promotion of veterinary medical research and education.  The Foundation shall hold, administer and dispose of gifts and property thereof, and any and all things necessary or incident to the accomplishment of the foregoing purposes, provided, however, that none of the funds, property or income of the corporation shall be used in attempting to influence legislation by the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise or for the benefit of any private member of the corporation or individual.
 
To accomplish the foregoing object or purpose, this Foundation shall have the right to act as Trustee of any funds or property that it may receive under specific or limited grants or agreements or that it may receive by testamentary disposition and shall have the right to hold and manage the same under the terms and conditions imposed by any such bequest not inconsistent with the objects herein above expressed.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the Foundation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or corresponding section of any future federal tax code).
 
Current Goals:

• To support innovative research and education projects with direct application to recruitment and retention of quality students into veterinary medicine.
• To advance veterinary medicine by supporting projects that raise veterinarian's awareness of current issues in the practice of veterinary medicine
• To educate the public about veterinary medicine and teach animal owner responsibility
• To ensure the success of developing leaders for our profession by providing student scholarships.
• To offer emergency scholarships to veterinary medical students in special circumstances

Possible Future Projects:

• Increase number and amount of scholarships
• Establish a strategic fund to help veterinarians who experience catastrophic loss due to disasters and emergencies
• Establish an IVMA Foundation lecture series
• Establish an IVMA Foundation professorship at Iowa State University

To contribute to the IVMA Foundation, please contact the IVMA office at 800/369-9564 or click on the link located on the upper right side of this page.

IVMA Foundation Meeting of the Corporation
September 24, 2025 @ 11:00a m
Gateway Conference Center - Ames, IA
The annual IVMA Foundation Meeting of the Corporation was called to order by Foundation President Dr. Abbey Smith at 11:00 am.  Present for the meeting were Board of Director members, Drs. Robert Freese – Secretary/Treasurer, Patrick Simonsen, Scott Curry, Ex officio Jessica Ward and IVMA Executive Director Randy Wheeler, the IVMA officers, and the Foundation corporate members (the IVMA Executive Board directors).  Unable to attend was Foundation Vice President Dr. Kim Van Driel.
 
Dr. Smith reviewed the Foundation Board members and their terms of office:

1. President – Dr. Dr. Abbey Smith..................................... September 2025
2. Vice President - Dr. Kim Van Driel ….……….…………..September 2026
3. Secretary/Treasurer - Dr. Robert Freese........................ September 2027
4. Dr. Patrick Simonsen – BOD member............................ September 2028
5. Dr. Scott Curry – BOD Member……..……………………September 2029
6. Ex Officio - Dr. Jessica Ward (CVM) Interim Associate Dean for Academic & Student Success

Self-nominations and nominations from the floor were called for a new Board of Director member, their term ending in 2030. Dr. Shamus Brown of Estherville was nominated.  The Corporation voted unanimously to select Dr. Brown for the incoming position.

A motion was made to approve the new officers; the motion was seconded and passed.

A motion was made to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded and passed.

1. Minutes 012225 BOD Mtg.
2. Minutes 051525 Sports & Field Day Mtg.
3. Minutes 081425 Bike Ride Task Force Mtg.

The Board reviewed the Foundation financials. A motion to approve was made, seconded, and passed.

2025 Scholarships Report: Sustaining Involvement, Incoming Freshman, and Bryan Wheeler Memorial scholarships were omitted this year due to lack of funding. 

1. $51,500 in Foundation Scholarships awarded to 29 students

Dr. Smith reviewed the current number of Foundation Fellows and the differentiation of the 4 support levels. Numbers have increased slightly, and levels of participation have increased or moved up a level in all categories:

1. 209 Foundation Fellows
   1. 152 Gold Level ($1,000 minimum donation within 5 yrs.)
   2. 16 Diamond level ($2,500 minimum over lifetime)
   3. 28 Platinum Level ($5,000 minimum over lifetime)
   4. 13 Advocates

It was proposed add a new support level as a “named Fellow scholarship” for a Fellow donating over $5,000.  Another suggestion was to add a category for donations under $1,000.  These suggestions will be taken before the 2026 BOD for review. 
 
IVMA Foundation Sports & Field Day brief recap. There were 44 golfers (Copper Creek Golf Course – Pleasant Hill), 8 shooters and 2 archers (Crocket Ridge Clays – Ackley, IA). The financials are incomplete as of this meeting.
 
Foundation fundraising events held during the 2-day Annual Meeting were discussed.  “Pass the Hat” will take place Friday during lunch.  A silent auction and 50/50 raffle will both be running during the Annual Meeting with winners drawn/announced on Friday as well.   IVMA member Dr. Kelley Donham has graciously offered the proceeds from the sale of his book “The Veterinarian Who Took Roads Less Traveled” for $25.  He is also going to match each sale personally, making it $50 donated to the Foundation for each book sale towards CVM scholarships.  
 
A Foundation Bike Ride is being planned for 2026.  Bike Ride Task Force Leader, Dr. Curry, discussed early planning which includes starting in Ankeny with routes to the Oasis area or Slater and possibly a High Trestle Bridge option, T-shirts, food and drink for a fun event. Task force is researching sponsorships and event details.  Besides IVMA members, practices, family and friends, the event would be open to the public.  Tentative date of Saturday, June 13, 2026 @ 1:00pm.
 
The meeting adjourned at 11:19 am.

IVMA Foundation Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2025 @ 1:00 pm
IVMA Office & Zoom
On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, President Dr. Abbey Smith called the meeting of the IVMA Foundation Board of Directors to order at 1:06pm. Present at the meeting were Drs. Abbey Smith, Scott Currey, Pat Simonsen, ex-official member Dr. Jared Danielson, and IVMA Executive Director Dr. Randy Wheeler. Those unable to attend were Drs. Kim Van Driel and Robert Freese
 
Officers and terms for 2025 are as follows:
            President – Dr. Abbey Smith-Schwab (2025)
            Vice President – Dr. Kim Van Driel (2026)
            Secretary/Treasurer – Dr. Robert Freese (2027)
            Board member – Dr. Pat Simonsen (2028)
            Board member – Dr. Scott Curry (2029)
            Ex officio – Dr. Jared Danielson (CVM)
 
All terms expire in September. A motion was made to approve the above officers for 2025 and passed.
 
Jon Glaser and Libby Glaser Johnson from Iowa Wealth Management (IWM) reviewed the 2024 investment portfolio for the Foundation in detail with the board.  All board members received a summary of the investments from Iowa Wealth Management. Dr. Wheeler had informed the BOD that the IVMA Executive Board (who are also members of the Foundation Corporation) had approved the services of IWM for the association for 2025.  A motion was made and the Board was unanimous in approval of retaining Iowa Wealth Management as Foundation investment firm for 2025.
 
The Board discussed possible nominees for the 2029 term BOD position to be filled in September.

Dr. Shamus Brown from the Estherville Veterinary Clinic was discussed as he had shown previous interest. Dr. Wheeler will reach out to see if he is still interested in applying.
 
The Board reviewed the Minutes from the following meetings:

1. Meeting of the Corporation Minutes – 092524
2. Sports & Field Day Recap Meeting Minutes – 103124
3. Financial Planning Committee Meeting Minutes – 110823

A motion to approve was made, seconded, and passed.
 
Financials were reviewed and a motion was made to approved and was passed.
 
There are currently 201 Foundation Fellows (169 Gold, 14 Diamond and 17 Platinum).
 
Fundraising events/projects were discussed. A proposal from Dr. Kelly Donham to sell his books at the IVMA Winter Conference was discussed.  Dr. Donham would donate all proceeds from the sale of his book ($25 per book) to the IVMA Foundation.  Options to sell in person and online were discussed.  Dr. Wheeler to check with Dr. Donham regarding if he has a way to take electronic payments if selling his book onsite at Winter Conference to keep IVMA from needing to manage the sales, as well as checking to see if he will man the Foundation table where the books would be sold.
 
Determination of 2025 scholarships was discussed. The Board agreed upon a total of $51,500 for scholarships in 2025. $26,000 less that was distributed in 2024.  The Board decided not to fund the IVMA Foundation Sustaining Involvement Scholarships ($9,000), and the IVMA Foundation Incoming Freshman Scholarships ($16,000) this year due to lack of available funds.  The Bryan Wheeler Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) will also not be funded this year.  The $15,000 bond will be used to fund part of the scholarships.
 
The motion to fund 2025 Foundation scholarships in total of $51,500 was moved, seconded, and passed.
 
Motion to adjourn at 2:26pm moved and passed.

Sports & Field Day Committee Minutes
IVMA Office, Ames, IA
Thursday, October 31, 2024

On Thursday, October 31 the Iowa Veterinary Medical Foundation’s Sports & Field Day Committee was called to order at noon by Chair Dr. Doug Quam at the IVMA Office in Ankeny. Others in attendance were Drs. Robert Freese, Dave Larson, Paul Murrell, Wayne Rychnovsky, Jeff Okones; Doug Quam; Mike Wells; Randy Wheeler (Executive Director) and Teresa Farrell (Programs Coordinator). Joining the meeting virtually were Drs. Jared Danielson and Pat Simonsen.

Unable to attend were Drs. Kim Van Driel, Jeno Kuennen, Darrell Neuberger, Abbey Smith, Jennifer Stumpf, and Kylee Thomas.

The minutes of the May 09, 2024, meeting were reviewed and approved by the group.

Financials were reviewed and approved. The P&L showed a net profit from Sports and Field Day 2023 of $11,139.18.
 
The group approved the event profits be divided into the following:

1. $10,500 was approved for Foundation scholarships of (7) $1,500 scholarships).
2. $0 will go the IVMA for administrative costs.
3. The remaining $639.18 will go back to the Foundation balance.

The 2024 S&F Day Golf event was discussed. There was an improvement in the number of golfers from 2023 but would still like to get more golfers to attend. Everyone heard positive comments about the venue, Copper Creek in Altoona and the time change to begin the event at 10 am and end in the middle of the afternoon with a reception instead of dinner.  Everyone is encouraged to bring family and friends to the event.
 
The 2025 S&F Day Golf event was discussed.

1. 2025 date choices: Wednesday 9/17 or Thursday 9/18. Trying to move away from the first week of school for ISU CVM, avoid labor day week, state fair
2. Will keep same Best Shot golf format.
3. Want to keep cost at $150/golfer, unless large increase in cost from golf course
4. Golf Prizes – stay the same in 2024.
5. Venue – 1^st choice will be return to Copper Creek. Teresa will reach out to them to secure a date and ask for pricing.

Sponsorships – Would like to increase sponsorships. Should have same VAP sponsors for 2025.  Will work on sponsorships after May meeting.

Reviewed the S&F day Evaluation results. Most were positive with the change of venue and earlier start time.

Raffle/silent auction for the Foundation resulted in $1645 profit on 50/50 Raffle (winner donated his ½ back to become a Foundation Fellow) and $1343 on Silent Auction = $2988 Total.
 
Discussed the 2024 S&F Day shooting event which was held the day before the golf event at Olofsons in Polk City. Included Sporting Clays & Trap/Skeet and 3D archery.

1. Elanco and Boehringer Ingelheim paid for shooting events (Randy Shifflett/ Chris Stuva) $1000 each. They also served lunch to the participants.
2. Had a free will donation for participants.
3. Had 20 clay/skeet shooters and 5 archery participants. Two participants entered both tournaments.
4. Used Dave Swanson “Targets on the Move” to set up shoot. Paid for out of sponsorship money.

Committee discussed the 2025 shoot.  Agreed to hold the shoot on a different day from golf. Dr. Wheeler will talk to sponsors (BI and Elanco) to see what date they would like for 2025. Doesn’t have to be a date close to the golf outing.  Also discussed possibly holding the shooting events at a different location in 2025 – possibly at the Targets on the Move facility in Ackley, IA
 
The group was open to new members – Dr. Wheeler will look into adding anyone who is interested.
 
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.