Iowa State University Foundation (ISUF) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1958 to steward private gifts and grants in support of Iowa State University. With a mission rooted in enhancing the student experience and advancing academic excellence, the Foundation partners closely with donors to fund scholarships, faculty positions, facility improvements, and groundbreaking research initiatives.
At the financial heart of the organization is Tiffany Lownes, the Foundation’s Controller.
In her role, Tiffany leads all aspects of financial operations, including reporting, compliance, audits, budgeting, forecasting, and technology implementation. When ISUF made the decision to modernize its budgeting processes, Tiffany was front and center.
“I was really looking for something that folks felt like they could jump into. Even if they don’t live and breathe numbers, they could do it fairly easily,” Tiffany explained.
That’s where Euna Budget came in.
Why Euna Budget? Usability Meets Forecasting Power
Tiffany’s focus was clear: streamline complex budget workflows, empower non-financial staff with a user-friendly tool, and enhance forecasting accuracy to support more strategic, data-informed decisions.
From the first demo, Tiffany knew Euna Budget was different than the legacy technology she had used in the past. Its clean interface, robust salary and benefits modeling, and intuitive forecasting tools made a lasting impression. Her entire team were excited to finally see detailed line items clearly laid out in the system, giving them the ability to view and manage budgets more holistically.
“We had been trying to do forecasts with manual spreadsheets, and the thought of being able to use these digital tools to fine-tune the forecast and get it as accurate as possible was really exciting to me,” said Tiffany. “I can present better, more thoughtful information to my executive team and senior leaders, and I can feel truly confident about the numbers I’m sharing.”
Implementation Done Right
After experiencing a bumpy ride with previous software implementations, Tiffany was relieved to find that Euna Budget’s onboarding experience was a breeze.
“Our implementation specialist was amazing at holding our hand throughout the process and getting the system set up and ready to go from the start”, Tiffany explains. I didn’t need to become an expert right away, and I was very grateful for that.”
The Euna team wasn’t just knowledgeable—they were responsive and genuinely customer-focused.
“[The Euna specialists] would answer our questions, and if they didn’t know, they’d say, ‘I’m going to go talk to somebody,’ and next time, they’d have an answer. It didn’t feel like it was all on me. It felt like Euna Support was saying, ‘You’re coming along with us,’ and that was huge.”
Game-Changing Results: Speed, Accuracy, and Transparency
Post-implementation, the results have been striking. Budget managers at ISUF now grasp the process more quickly. Previously complicated steps—like moving budget entries into review—are now streamlined with just a click.
“Even something as simple as budgeting for a new position has become easier”, says Tiffany. “In the past, for instance, we always allocated the maximum benefits to a position. Now the system lets us budget more thoughtfully and flexibly.”
Euna Budget’s import/export functions and customizable dashboards are also a hit with staff, offering real-time visibility into budgeting progress.
“To log in and immediately see all the information they need—that’s been huge. They didn’t have that before.”
A Trusted Partner for the Future
Tiffany is clear: Euna Budget isn’t just a tool—it’s a strategic partner that helps ISUF make smarter, data-driven decisions. And when asked if she would recommend the platform to colleagues, she doesn’t hesitate to answer.
“I would definitely say they should consider Euna Budget,” Tiffany says. “Especially if they want that level of detail and that ability to forecast. It just checks so many boxes for us.”
Looking ahead, she sees even greater potential in using the platform to maximize donor impact and operational efficiency.
“In the end, if we have a more thoughtful, well put-together budget, we’ll be able to better serve not only our donors but the university itself—making sure those donations impact the students and the overall community here.”
Ready to modernize your budget process like the University of Iowa Foundation?
Discover how Euna Budget can simplify budgeting, forecasting, and reporting—no spreadsheets required.