EXHIBIT (17)(A)

                      FIRST AMERICAN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
                                800 Nicollet Mall
                              Minneapolis, MN 55402

                      CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE TAX FREE FUND

                    PROXY FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                         TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 16, 2008

     The undersigned appoints Charles D. Gariboldi, Jr., Kathleen L. Prudhomme,
Jeffery M. Wilson, and Richard J. Ertel, or any one of them, as proxies of the
undersigned, with full power of substitution, to cast all eligible votes held by
the undersigned in the California Intermediate Tax Free Fund series of First
American Investment Funds, Inc. ("FAIF") at a Special Meeting of Shareholders,
to be held in Room A on the third floor at 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55402, on December 16, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, and at any
adjournment thereof, with all powers the undersigned would possess if present in
person. All previous proxies given with respect to the meeting are revoked.
Receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and the accompanying
Prospectus/Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged.

     There are three ways to vote your Proxy. Your telephone or Internet vote
authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you
marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

VOTE BY PHONE - TOLL FREE - 1-800-[INSERT]

     Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, until 12:00 p.m. Central Time on December 15, 2008. Please have your proxy
card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax
Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions the voice
provides you.

VOTE BY INTERNET - [WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM]

     Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until
12:00 p.m. Central Time on December 15, 2008. Please have your proxy card and
the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number
available. Follow the simple instructions to obtain your records and create an
electronic ballot.

VOTE BY MAIL

     Mark, sign and date your proxy card and promptly return it in the
postage-paid envelope we've provided or return it to THE ALTMAN GROUP, 1200 WALL
STREET WEST, LYNDHURST, NJ 07071, ATTN: TABULATION DEPARTMENT.

     NOTE: IF YOU VOTE BY PHONE OR INTERNET, PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD

     THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS INSTRUCTED ON THE MATTER SET FORTH BELOW.



     IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
"FOR" ALL ITEMS. UPON ALL OTHER MATTERS THE PROXIES SHALL VOTE AS THEY DEEM IN
THE BEST INTERESTS OF CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE TAX FREE FUND. THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THIS PROPOSAL.



     1.   APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FOR CALIFORNIA
          INTERMEDIATE TAX FREE FUND, PROVIDING FOR REORGANIZATION OF THAT FUND
          INTO THE CALIFORNIA TAX FREE FUND SERIES OF FAIF, INCLUDING THE
          AMENDMENT TO FAIF'S AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
          NECESSARY TO EFFECT THE REORGANIZATION:

          [ ] FOR   [ ] AGAINST   [ ] ABSTAIN

NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. When signing in a
fiduciary capacity, such as executor, administrator, trustee, attorney,
guardian, etc., please so indicate. Corporate and partnership proxies should be
signed by an authorized person indicating the person's title.


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Signature(s) (Title(s), if applicable)

                                        Date: _______________, 2008