FAQs

What is the ARMA International Educational Foundation?

The ARMA International Educational Foundation (the Foundation) is an education and research funding resource to be used by individuals and organizations for the advancement of knowledge in the field of information management.

For independently verified information about the Foundation, visit GuideStar, the National Database of Nonprofit Organizations.

Does the Foundation have a vision?

Yes. Our vision is to be the leading foundation that enhances the practical and scholarly knowledge of information management.

What are the strategic goals of the Foundation?

The three strategic goals of the Foundation are to:

  • support research to address critical issues in information management
  • provide funding opportunities to enhance knowledge, skills and abilities of practitioners in the field
  • foster educational initiatives that develop information management skills and programs
How is the Foundation governed?

The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, comprised of nine elected Trustees. Currently there are six standing committees: Research, Scholarship, Marketing, Fundraising, Finance and Governance. Each committee is chaired by a Trustee and has volunteer members from the information management profession.

What is the focus of the Foundation?

The Foundation focuses on research that will move the field of information management forward; it provides grants and scholarships to students and practitioners who can then give back to the information community as credentialed information professionals, and it supports and promotes educational forums that impact and educate the global information management practitioner.

Are there other ways I can individually contribute to the Foundation besides pledging?

Yes. You can make one-time gifts not linked to a pledge at any time and as often as you would like. You can obtain matching gifts from your employer for one-time gifts (or pledges), make memorial donations or honorariums, establish planned giving gifts through estate planning, designate investment gifts other than cash (stocks, etc.), and establish the Foundation as an insurance policy beneficiary, etc. If there is a gift you would like to make, the Foundation will work with you for a positive result. Click here for more information about how to make a donation.

Must pledges be paid all at once?

No. Pledge payments can be made to the Foundation over a five-year period, and are payable on an annual, semiannual, or quarterly basis using a number of payment options. Arrangements specific to your pledge are made confidentially with the Foundation Coordinator. Click here for more information about how to make a donation.

What portion of the donations are spent on administrative costs to run the Foundation?

The generally accepted cost of operating a non-profit U.S. foundation is 10% to 20% of the interest from the Endowment. Based on this information, the Foundation anticipates that it will follow the generally accepted model for determining costs. Financial investments and contributions from individuals, companies, and foundations in the United States are fully tax-deductible as provided by U.S. law.

What is the mission of the Foundation?

The Foundation’s mission is to fund and promote research, scholarship, and educational opportunities for the information management profession.

What is the Foundation’s affiliation with ARMA International?

A motion to create a Foundation was passed by the Board of Directors of ARMA International in March 1996. The Foundation is incorporated as a separate, tax-exempt, non-profit corporation and is governed by its own set of bylaws and a Board of Trustees. ARMA is a not-for-profit organization and the Foundation is a non-profit which means that it is a 501(c)(3) organization and therefore tax-exempt for US citizens.

Although there is no formal membership, Foundation donors serve as its supporting constituency. The Foundation functions as a resource development and grant-making organization through funding, not an implementing one. For example, the Foundation does not create educational products or training materials for the industry. Working cooperatively with other organizations and educational institutions, the Foundation is able to fund multifaceted educational and research programs and grants.

What’s in it for me?

As a Foundation donor and member of the information management profession, you are making a long-term investment in your future and the future stability of this industry. All contributors will reap the global rewards of research, benchmarking studies, and guidelines and standards development. Even without an immediate, personal, or specific gain from a donation, donors have the knowledge and satisfaction of making a difference and contributing to the stability of the information management profession in the future. This is an important legacy.

Although there is no formal membership, Foundation donors serve as its supporting constituency. The Foundation functions as a resource development and grant-making organization through funding, not an implementing one. For example, the Foundation does not create educational products or training materials for the industry. Working cooperatively with other organizations and educational institutions, the Foundation is able to fund multifaceted educational and research programs and grants.

Are contributions tax deductible?

Yes, within the United States. The Foundation is incorporated under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as a non-profit, tax-exempt, research/education foundation. Financial investments and contributions from individuals, companies, and foundations are fully tax-deductible as provided by U.S. law.

How are contributions recognized?

Those investing in the profession through a pledge donation to the Foundation will be recognized according to their wishes. Several forms of public recognition in accordance with the donor’s level of contribution are available, including being mentioned in the appropriate location on the website, such as Gifts in RecognitionIn Memoriam, or Speaker Honorariums, or announcements or events.

When can I expect to see programs being funded?

Contributions made to the Foundation Endowment are permanent. Programs are funded from the interest earned on the invested principle. Therefore, in order to fund programs, the Foundation must first raise money to fund the Endowment, which in turn earns interest with which to issue grants. Implementation of program funding depends largely on the speed of securing pledges, the timely payment on these pledges once secured, and the amount of interest earned from the Endowment.

How can I get further information on the Foundation?

To learn more about the Foundation and how you can become involved and support your profession’s Foundation, please email us at: admin@armedfoundation.org.