104: Curt Simic, Indiana University

Curt Simic, President Emeritus, Indiana University Foundation, is widely recognized as a national leader in fundraising for higher education, management of foundations, and foundation-institution relationships. He has more than 40 years' experience in all areas of development and alumni and external relations, at both public and private institutions of higher education. As president of IUF from 1988 to 2008, Mr. Simic was the chief development officer for IU, responsible for oversight of all fundraising in a multi-campus development operation with centralized and decentralized functions; investment of the endowment; and development-related administrative services and infrastructure. Under his leadership, fundraising for IU grew from $70 million a year from 60,000 donors to more than $270 million from over 120,000 donors. Since 1990, IU has ranked almost every year in the top 20, or top 2%, of colleges and universities in the nation in total voluntary support, the combined total of gift and non-governmental grant funds received by an institution in any given year. Beginning his career at IUF as director of the annual fund and of the Student Foundation, Mr. Simic also served Yale University and the universities of Tennessee, Alabama, Oregon, and California-Berkeley, where he directed all fundraising efforts for the campus, including the largest fundraising campaign ever conducted at a public university at that time. In May, 2016 Mr. Simic was awarded Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Indiana University. Currently, Mr. Simic is serving on the Jacobs School of Music Dean’s Advisory Council, the Eskenazi Museum of Art National Advisory Board, the School of Public Health Bloomington Dean’s Alliance Council, the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Mays Family Institute of Diversity in Philanthropy, the Kinsey Institute Director’s Advisory Committee, William E. Wiggins Fellowship Endowment Campaign Committee and Board of Associates for IU Student Foundation.