‌Few private entities have had the magnitude of impact on UNI’s campus as the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. 30 consecutive years of philanthropic support makes the Carver Trust one of UNI’s largest, longest and most impactful private donors.

The Muscatine-based private foundation has made significant investments in scholarships, buildings, laboratories and classrooms at UNI since 1989. The breadth of the Carver Trust’s giving is remarkable, with dozens of grants spanning each of the university’s four academic colleges and touching the lives of all UNI students, faculty and staff.

2019 marked an incredible milestone as the Carver Trust exceeded $20 million in giving to UNI. This makes the foundation one of UNI’s largest private donors.

“The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust’s partnership has allowed UNI to offer innovative resources to improve students’ educational experience,” said UNI President Mark Nook. “The Trust’s visionary investments over the past three decades have shaped the trajectory of the university and enhanced the quality of education UNI students receive.”

The majority of Carver Trust grants have been concentrated in the sciences, with investments in instrumentation, technology and teaching laboratories. Laura Strauss, head of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, said the Carver Trust’s support has dramatically enhanced the department’s lab courses by expanding and improving lab infrastructure and helping secure industry-grade instrumentation.

“The incorporation of these instruments in our lab curriculum has provided opportunities for valuable real-world experiences that serve our graduates well in the future,” Strauss said.

Other Carver Trust investments have supported capital projects, including the renovation of McCollum Science Hall in 2000, followed by the construction of the Jacobson Human Performance Complex in 2007 and the renovation of the Schindler Education Center in 2015.

Through the Carver Scholars program, the foundation has reduced financial barriers for students who have overcome difficult circumstances to pursue an education. Since 1989, the Carver Scholars program has granted $2.25 million to more than 500 UNI students, with each award averaging nearly $5,000.

“We look forward to the Carver Trust’s continued partnership to build distinguished academic programs that prepare UNI students for the professional challenges of tomorrow,” Nook said.

‌Giving Milestones

Highlighted here are just a few of the many Carver Trust investments that have shaped our campus.

1989

First gift to UNI establishes Carver Scholars program

2000

$1 million gift to renovation of McCollum Science Hall

2003

$250,000 gift toward Jacobson Human Performance Complex project, completed in 2007

2007

$60,000 gift assists with meeting challenge grant to establish the Robert & Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement

2013

$2 million gift establishes the Center for Educational Transformation in the College of Education

2014

$212,000 gift completes Rod Library renovation project

2015

$1 million gift to renovation of Schindler Education Center

2019

Carver Trust passes 30 consecutive years of grantmaking to UNI

2019

Carver Trust surpasses $20 million in cumulative giving to UNI