Endowed Chair, Professorship or Department

Endowing a chair, professorship or department is one of the most effective means of attracting, nurturing and retaining top faculty. Endowed chairs, professorships or departments that attract and support distinguished faculty are among the most significant ways you can help provide a high-quality education for students. Endowing a department provides permanent support to the discipline of your choice.

• The university’s endowment spending policy preserves and increases the value of the endowment. A portion of the interest earned on the principal of your gift — currently 5% — will be used to fund the chair, professorship or department. By protecting the principal investment, the endowment provides support in perpetuity, which over time, will increase as the value of the principal increases.
• A minimum of $1 million is required to establish an endowed chair, professorship or department.
• The fund can appear in one's own name, in honor or memory of someone or in the name of your company.

An endowed chair, professorship or department may be funded through the following:

• an outright gift to the university, paid in entirety over a period of up to five years. For example, a $1 million endowment may be established through a gift of the entire amount, through five annual installments of $200,000 or through some other pledge payment plan. 
• making gifts of appreciated property or securities to the university. By making a gift of appreciated securities, you can save income taxes twice by:
  • receiving a charitable deduction for the current value of the stock, and
  • eliminating payment of capital gains tax on the stocks' increased value.
• establishing a deferred gift, such as a bequest, life income gifts (charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder trust, etc.), life insurance or qualified retirement plan assets.