Indianapolis, July 17, 2024 – A lifelong champion of the fraternity experience, Kelley A. Bergstrom is selfless when it comes to giving of his time, talents and treasures. Whether giving personally or cultivating relationships and encouraging others to give, he is committed to helping provide a positive experience for Pi Kappa Phis across the country.
It is for his continued generosity and service that Kelley has been recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Philanthropist. His award will be presented on Tuesday, Aug. 20, during the FFE Awards of Distinction Program, part of FFE Seminar.
“Through his willingness to give to institutions and organizations that have guided him through life, he has shown members, alumni and fraternal friends alike that commitment to university and fraternity is lifelong and has no bounds. Without generosity like his and members who are willing to give in ways that are meaningful and significant to them in proportion to their individual wealth, fraternal organizations and the higher education system could not stand,” said Pi Kappa Phi nominators Jake Henderson, CEO and James Smith, National President.
Fully living one of Pi Kappa Phi’s core values, Kelley takes personal responsibility into account for each project or organization he gives to. Because of his undergraduate experience, which he believes set him up for success in life, Kelley generously funded the fraternity’s 2008 National Headquarters project which is now memorialized in the office’s name, the Kelley A. Bergstrom Leadership Center of Pi Kappa Phi. He also served as honorary co-chair of Pi Kapp’s first major comprehensive capital campaign, Common Loyalty – A Campaign for Pi Kappa Phi. With an initial goal of $7 million, his challenge gift and leadership helped achieve over $9 million raised.
Giving back to his undergraduate alma mater, he served as an Iowa State University (ISU) Foundation governor and as a member of the Ivy College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council. During his tenure as board chair, the Iowa State University’s Foundation fundraising grew from $54.5 million to $83.2 million, and his continued guidance helped ISU raise more than $135 million in one fiscal year. He has also endowed a scholarship that helps provide 24 first-generation undergraduate students with tuition assistance annually.
At the University of Florida, where he earned his graduate degree, he established a major endowment that supports the real estate center. He has served on the center’s advisory board since 1998, and in 2006, it was renamed the Kelley A. Bergstrom Real Estate Center in his honor.
University of Florida President Ben Sasse wrote in support of the nomination, “Kelley’s visionary philanthropy has created a talent pipeline for a fast-growing area of the economy, spurred top-flight research, and supported the University’s efforts to recruit the very best faculty. All of us at UF are enormously grateful to Kelley for his vision and his dedication. His exceptional generosity has motivated others to invest alongside him and challenged all of us to continue our pursuit of excellence in instruction, research, and outreach.”
The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence is proud to present Kelley with the 2024 Outstanding Philanthropist Award and looks forward to celebrating his enduring commitment to funding programs and spaces within Pi Kappa Phi and across higher education.
###
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR FRATERNAL EXCELLENCE
The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) cultivates a culture of care, provides connections and supports research across the fraternal community. Often known as the “heart” of a fraternal organization, foundations and fundraising professionals come together to comprise membership and benefit from programs, services and resources for fraternal fundraising. FFE also provides operational support for established, new and emerging fraternal foundations and works hand-in-hand with several fraternal communities to strengthen and improve the entire fraternity/sorority experience.
