The Independent Alumni Association of George Washington has donated half a million dollars to GW-related groups this fall as the group prepares to disband.

IAAGW’s board unanimously voted to dissolve in September and phase out its existing grant programs, concluding a one-year tenure that began after the group parted ways with GW last September. IAAGW President Martin Baum said the $500,000 in disbursements will help the group fulfill its mission of supporting the University philanthropically and keep its “legacy” after the group wraps up the dissolution process.

“Rather than sitting in a bank account or with the funds, it’s where the money should be – and that’s to meet the very real needs of students and at the same time support the University,” Baum said.

IAAGW – formerly known as the GW Alumni Association – originally planned to merge with GW’s Office of Alumni Relations in the summer of 2018, but controversy over the merger resulted in the resignations of seven association board members and the ousting of the group’s president. Officials debuted a new GW Alumni Association with a 13-member executive board in May.

Baum said the disbursements constitute more than 90 percent of IAAGW’s remaining funds, which exceed $500,000, but he declined to provide the exact value of the group’s total endowment. The remaining funds not donated will cover administrative costs, like filings with the Internal Revenue Service and District officials, as the group completes the legal process to dissolve.

“We’re officially still an organization, but for all intents and purposes, we’re taking the steps needed to be officially dissolved in the eyes of the D.C. government,” Baum said.

Baum added that IAAGW donated its endowment funds with the stipulation that the receiving groups cannot use them for administrative expenditures so each dollar is spent to benefit students.

Kathy Bikus, IAAGW’s governance chair, said the funds will benefit 17 GW-related groups, including the men’s basketball team; the Yellow Ribbon Program, an initiative that provides scholarships to student veterans; and the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy’s INSPIRE program, a three-week course about the relationship between tribal and federal governments for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian high school students.

The Hatchet received a $5,000 grant from the independent alumni group, and The Hatchet’s alumni association received an additional $5,000 grant.

Bikus said the recipients were selected based on IAAGW board members’ interests and passions.

“We think the student body and those receiving it are going to be very appreciative of us supporting some really worthwhile programs,” she said. “It was interesting for us, frankly, to learn about all the different programs going on across the University.”

Bikus declined to name all of the groups that received funding.

She added that IAAGW’s leaders have collaborated with officials to navigate the legal dissolution process.

“We were very pleased that it’s gone seamlessly now,” Bikus said. “The University stepped in and said, ‘Yes, we’re going to help you through this process,’ and we have our legal team that’s been working with them.”

Matt Lindsay, the assistant vice president of communications and marketing in the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, said the University “appreciates” the contributions of IAAGW members who are among GW’s “biggest” supporters.

He added that the “generous” donations from the group will support a range of student-focused programs like scholarships and research.

“We look forward to engaging with members of the IAAGW and further involving them with GW alumni activities as we move forward together,” Lindsay said in an email.

Richard Jones, the president of GW’s new alumni association, said he is “immensely grateful” for the efforts of IAAGW members.

“These are the gifts that change lives,” Jones said in an email. “I know, because they changed mine.”

He added that he is “confident” that GWAA can learn and benefit from the perspectives of IAAGW members.

“I envision an Alumni Association in which the energies of every single GW alumnus are included and not a single alumnus is excluded from working together with President [Thomas] LeBlanc and Board of Trustees Chair Grace Speights to help move GW forward,” Jones said.

Debbie Wheeler, a member of IAAGW’s board, said she pushed for funds to be donated to the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Foggy Bottom chapter. The disbursement will fund scholarships for graduate students majoring in American history, American studies or museum studies, she said.

“The reason I was passionate about this particular scholarship is that George Washington University is a great place for students of American history, and we say it’s going to be a good step to go to school,” she said. “But it is very expensive and a lot of times they don’t always make great money, so it’s a real help to support those students to continue to study.”

Wheeler, who established the Foggy Bottom chapter of the organization two years ago, said she will continue to be involved with GW through the chapter, and the donations will provide support to deserving organizations.

“I certainly hope that it gives inspiration to other alumni and students to donate to the University in areas of their passion and interests,” she said.