What? Yes, the SEI Futures Fund is a decade old this month!
The Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE created the SEI Futures Fund (SEIFF) in December 2013 to support the SEI Vision, and so this month is an excellent time to celebrate what we all have accomplished. It is also a time to look forward to what we will be supporting in 2024. I will end with a request to consider the SEIFF in your year-end giving, especially since your gift now will have quadruple the impact on our ability to fund our future strategic initiatives through the CSI 3 to 1 gift match.
What Is the SEI Vision?
In 2013, SEI published A Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering and Structural Engineers: A case for change. The SEI Vision lays out an inspiring view of what the structural engineering profession could be by the year 2033, and it makes recommendations for SEI Board of Governors’ action to lead us to that vision. The SEI Vision is that the Structural Engineering Profession will be:
- A unique, fully engaged profession with a strong identity;
- Recognized for the contribution the profession makes to
- the creation of inspiring structures,
- public safety and risk management, and
- economic and sustainable use of resources,the use of innovative technologies;
- Stewards of the built environment; and
- Attractive career path to the best and brightest.
What Is the SEI Futures Fund?
Recognizing the pressing need for professional volunteerism and financial resources necessary to bring about the SEI Vision, SEI established the SEI Futures Fund (SEIFF). Every dollar contributed goes directly to profession-building initiatives identified and approved by the SEIFF Board. The SEI Futures Fund operates in collaboration with the ASCE Foundation for administrative and professional fundraising expertise, so that 100% of your gifts are utilized to support our grants.
The goals of the SEI Futures Fund are unique: to advance the art, science, and practice of structural engineering for a brighter future for our profession. It does this by funding four strategic initiatives outside the normal bounds of the SEI operating budget. It does not support scientific research. The four strategic priorities for funding are to:
- Invest in the future of the profession,
- Promote student interest in structural engineering,
- Support younger members involvement in SEI, and
- Provide opportunities for professional development.
Donors may be individuals, companies, or organizations. The Board’s strategy for individuals has been top-down, ensuring we have the support and commitment of the SEI Board, the SEIFF Board, and the many SEI committees, chapters, and members. Total grants from the SEIFF to SEI initiatives over the past five years have been $1,027,000!
What Will the SEIFF Support in 2024?
For 2024 the SEI Futures Fund Board has committed more than $200,000 for these strategic programs:
- Student and Young Professional Scholarship to engage at in-person SEI conferences. Apply by January 3 for scholarship to SEICon24 March 19-22 at NASCC in San Antonio – www.SEICon24.org/scholarships!
- Young Professional Travel Support for SEI Standards committees.
- SEI Carbon Impacts Workshop
- Publish SEI Prestandard for Calculation Methodology for Structural Systems in Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment
- Advocacy for the Flood Loads Supplement #2 to ASCE 7-22
It is very exciting to work on the ASCE 7 Flood Loads Committee. We are working on the first major upgrades to this Chapter in many cycles. As the Young Professional representative on the committee, I am helping to shepherd the group’s thoughts and concepts into ballots for voting.
Jessica Mandrick P.E., S.E., LEED AP;
Gilsanz Murray Steficek LLP ASCE 7-22 Flood
Loads Subcommittee Secretary-Historian-Balloteer
What Can You Do to Support the Seiff?
An Incredible Match Gift Opportunity!
In 2023, Computer and Structures, Inc. is matching donations to the SEI Futures Fund three-to-one up to $250,000! This very generous challenge grant expires on January 1, so please consider a year-end contribution to the SEI Futures Fund, as it will quadruple your donation’s impact on our ability to fund our strategic priorities and future grants. We have one month left to meet this challenge, and we need your support in fully achieving the remarkable matching gift. Many thanks to Ashraf Habibullah and CSI for this challenge!
This year’s SEI Futures Fund Board members are Joe Burns, Linda Kaplan, Jim Harris, Dan Linzell, and Otto Lynch. Please reach out to any of us if you have questions. We also want to thank Jon Magnusson for his excellent stewardship of the SEI Futures Fund as its Chair for 2022-2023, and particularly for his role in securing the very generous challenge grant from Computers and Structures, Inc.
Learn more and give at www.asce.org/SEIFuturesFund. Thank you!■