IUSF History
In 1950 Howdy Wilcox had been executive director of the IU Foundation for about a year and had a minor problem. No one knew what the IU Foundation was! "In those days, the Foundation simply had no identity on campus, neither with the students nor the faculty. I wrote a letter to President Wells recommending that we form a Student Foundation Committee and charge that committee with 'spreading the word.'" And so the IU Student Foundation (IUSF) was born.

Today the IUSF still counts "spreading the word" about the IU Foundation as one of its goals, along with sponsoring campus events that foster enthusiasm and leadership, raising money for working students, and forging a bond between the student and the University, resulting in strong alumni. IUSF is now the student arm of the Indiana University Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to raise funds for the university and its students.

The planning and preparation of the Little 500 bike races are a large portion of the IU Student Foundation's activities, but many other annual, campus-wide events are also solely supported by IUSF. Everything from the performing arts to student recruiting finds a place on the organization's agenda. Members, with the help of advisors and campus officials, provide Indiana University with a diverse array of activities that serve both students and faculty.