Iota Chi Chapter Needs Your Support!
Iota Chi PIKE University Fund
UCONN PIKE is set to return in Fall of 2025! Yes, you read that correctly.
Our pitch to return to Storrs was met with great support by the administration. A big selling point of our pitch centered around alumni support. Alumni support remains the most vital contribution to successful chapters. Support is either bucketed by time and/or treasure. The administration loved our vision of supporting leadership development through PIKE University.
The Iota Chi Chapter Endowment Fund will raise critical scholarship dollars earmarked specifically for Iota Chi Chapter's PIKE University undergraduate registration. The benefit to Iota Chi alumni is the endowment allows alumni to make tax-deductible financial contribution to a chapter specific initiative.
Let's unpack this a bit further below.
What does a chapter endowment fund support? Academic and leadership scholarships granted annually to chapters and students for attendance at educational programs under the PIKE University umbrella.
What is PIKE University? The premier fraternity leadership development and educational programming that teaches our undergraduate members the best practices for their chapter operations as well as personal and professional development.
What PIKE University events are there?
- Chapter Executives Conference (CEC): Held annually in Memphis, this 3-day program provides educational programming specifically for the chapter President, Treasurer and Recruitment Chair.
- Leadership Summits: 8 regional conferences held annually across the country and are open to all members of the chapter. Our undergraduate brothers learn about the best practices in various chapter operations as well as programming on leadership development, time management, proper dress and etiquette, a deeper understanding of the Fraternity’s Ritual and values and much more.
- International Convention/Academy: An amazing experience available to all undergraduate and alumni Pikes. Chapters discuss and vote on the vision and future of the Fraternity, as well as, win International Awards, such as the coveted Smythe Award!
Why we need your help? Pi Kappa Alpha’s goal is to make PIKE University available to every undergraduate member that wants to attend. Unfortunately, these events are not free and most of our student members must pay for their own attendance. The financial burden is consistently noted as the primary reason why undergraduates decided to not attend the conferences. The lack of attendance negatively affects the chapter's leadership training culture. The lack of training has down stream affects on overall chapter performance.
How can I support Iota Chi Chapter? By making a gift to your chapter’s endowment fund today. As of July 1, 2024 the Iota Chi's Chapter Endowment Fund has a balance of $8,000.
How much money is awarded each year? Once Iota Chi's chapter endowment fund must reach a $10,000 threshold, the Foundation annually grants 3%-5% of the total amount. As the balance grows with time, so does the size of the grant (e.g., $10,000 awards $300 to $500 every year and $100,000 awards $3,000 to $5,000 annually).
How much does Iota Chi need? The $30,000 guarantees that Iota Chi can send its future President, Recruitment Chair and Treasurer can attend the immensely important Chapter Executives Conference (CEC) every year, in perpetuity.
Could the chapter use more than $30,000? Per International By-laws, voted on by the undergraduate chapters, Pi Kappa Alpha requires its chapters to send 11 men per year to the various conferences (5 to Leadership Summit, 3 to CEC, 3 to Convention). For context, 10 years ago this requirement was 1 brother to attend Convention.
In order to endow these 11 men attending PIKE University events each year, the Iota Chi Chapter Endowment Fund long-term goal would be to raise approximately $100,000. Here’s a breakdown of the required attendance and pricing:
- Chapter Executives Conference: $300 registration per person and 3 attendees recommended: President, Treasurer, Recruitment Chair (approximately $10,000 per person to endow or $30,000 to endow all three positions).
- Leadership Summits: $150 registration per person and 5 attendees recommended (approximately $5,000 per person to endow or $25,000 to endow 5 attendees).
- International Convention/Academy: $450 registration per person and 3 attendees recommended (approximately $15,000 per person to endow or $45,000 to endow 3 attendees).
I want to help! Excellent, you can help immediately making a financial contribution here. Click the “Donate Now” button. Your tax-deductible donations go the furthest by making a recurring (monthly, quarterly or annual) donation. Supporting at a smaller denomination on a recurring basis allows the fund to grow with time. However, if you are in a place to only give one-time, you can make that donation as well. Either way, your contributions are instrumental in providing scholarships for our future brothers to attend PIKE University.
Thank you for your support!
Current Recurring Donors:
John Fisher
Sal DePino
Nick Carpino
Corey Rousseau
Brian Chesler
Jeff Shaw
Nolan Riley
Bryan Rawlinson
Completed Pledge () & One-time Donors:
Kyle Jandreau
Kevin Penner
Greg Marmaros*