The ISU Foundation recently announced the appointments of a new assistant director of annual giving and a new controller.

Rachel S. Sinclair of Ames has assumed the position of assistant director of annual giving, and Lisa Eslinger has assumed the position of controller.

Sinclair has worked for the foundation for several years.

“I started out as a student caller, moved up to a supervisor and did my internship at the ISU Foundation telemarketing program,” Sinclair said.

After graduating from ISU in May with a degree in liberal studies, Sinclair accepted the position of assistant director of annual giving.

“We are in charge of the fund raising that is done over the telephone,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair manages a staff of 85 students, which raises an average of $50,000 every week.

The Foundation received a record $100 million in private gift support during the last fiscal year.

“Our goal for this year is $2.57 million through just the telemarketing program,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair said the telemarketing program calls parents and alumni to raise money for special projects, renovations, scholarships, support for each college and the library. The money also is used to help ISU improve its technology.

“We try to raise our goal by 5 percent every year and to contact 90,000 alumni year-round seeking money to help Iowa State,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair said she wants each student at ISU to realize the importance of alumni funding.

“Tuition alone isn’t enough money to make ISU function,” she said.

Sinclair said one of the most important parts of her job is making sure her employees are happy and enjoy what they are doing.

Phyllis Lepke, senior vice president of the ISU Foundation, said she is confident in Sinclair’s abilities.

“Rachel’s expertise in telemarketing will help secure additional funds for the ISU Foundation,” Lepke said.

The ISU Foundation also announced the appointment of Lisa Eslinger to the position of controller.

“My job is to maintain the dollars raised by the ISU Foundation,” Eslinger said.

Eslinger graduated in 1984 from the University of Northern Iowa, according to a press release.

Eslinger said she worked as the senior manager of public services at KPMG Peat Marwick LLP in Minneapolis, Minn. She also has experience in administrative positions, where she was responsible for audit staffing and reporting, process re-engineering, government financial reporting and investments.

“I’m bringing experience from a variety of organizations to ISU,” Eslinger said. “We are continually trying to improve consumer services.”

Eslinger said the ISU Foundation has a great reputation in fund raising, and they are a great team to learn from.

Lepke said she is looking forward to working with Eslinger.

“Eslinger is an expert in financial management that will assist us in that area,” Lepke said.

“We at the ISU Foundation are delighted to have these two outstanding professionals join our team,” Lepke said.