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Endowment Levels

An endowment creates financial stability, allowing NC State to be less dependent on unpredictable sources of revenue, such as research sponsorship, state and national government aid. The recently concluded Campaign for NC State Students allowed NC State and the university-related foundations to greatly increased the endowed funds for scholarships and fellowships.

An endowment is created through the establishment of a permanent fund that is invested and managed. A portion of annual income generated is used to carry out the donor's designated purpose. Income earned in excess of the annual amount spent is added back into the endowment so that it continues to grow and maintain its purchasing power for future generations.

You do not have to be wealthy to establish an endowment, as there are a variety of ways to fund your commitment. Outright gifts and planned gifts such as charitable trusts and will bequests are popular ways to fund the initial endowment or add to it in later years. Donors often fund endowments as a single gift or in the alternative, they spread the payments over several years in the form of a pledge. Endowed funds can become family traditions, with succeeding generations adding gifts to the principal established by a founding donor.

Gifts for scholarship and fellowship endowments provide many opportunities to merge our donors' desire to promote and enhance the University with the needs and objectives of NC State. In order to guarantee that the income from an endowment will be sufficient to achieve the donor's goals, minimum support levels have been established. Following are just a few of the categories and minimum support levels for endowments:

To Support Students

  • Undergraduate/Professional Scholarship Award:
    to provide partial support for a student in an undergraduate or professional program
    Minimum $ 15,000
  • Undergraduate/Professional Scholarship:
    to support a named scholarship for a student in an undergraduate or professional program.
    Minimum $ 25,000
  • Merit Awards Program Scholarship:
    to provide a merit/no-need scholarship for an entering freshman to recognize exceptional academic ability and talent.
    Minimum $ 50,000
  • Athletic Scholarship:
    to provide support for a student-athlete in a varsity sport.
    Minimum $100,000
  • Caldwell Alumni Scholarship:
    to provide an annual stipend for a student on the basis of demonstrated leadership potential, outstanding scholarship, citizenship, intellectual promise.
    Minimum $100,000
  • Graduate Fellowship Fund:
    to provide partial support for students in a graduate program.
    Minimum $100,000
  • Athletic Scholarship:
    to provide support for a student-athlete who holds a specific position in a varsity sport.
    Minimum $250,000
  • Graduate Fellowship:
    to provide support for a student in a graduate program.
    Minimum $300,000

To Support Faculty

  • Faculty Fellows Fund:
    to provide income and recognition for promising young faculty scholars at pivotal points in their careers.
    Minimum $300,000
  • Associate Professorship:
    to reward and encourage a gifted teacher or scholar early in his/her career.
    Minimum $500,000
  • Endowed Professorship:
    to provide income, teaching and research support for an eminent scholar.
    Minimum $1,000,000
  • Endowed Chair:
    to create a new faculty position including salary, benefits, research funds, space, etc.
    Minimum $2,500,000

To Endow and Name Colleges and Academic Departments

  • Institutes, Programs and Centers:
    At least three quarters of the endowment must be unrestricted to ensure flexibility for the overall enhancement of the institute, program or center.
    Minimum $1,000,000
  • Academic Department:
    At least three quarters of the endowment must be unrestricted to ensure flexibility for the overall enhancement of the academic department
    Minimum $10,000,000
  • College:
    At least three quarters of the endowment must be unrestricted to ensure flexibility for the overall enhancement of the college.
    Minimum $25,000,000

To Support the General Endowment

  • Endowed Fund:
    a named fund to provide annual income to support various institutional needs and objectives.
    Minimum $ 15,000
  • Library Support Funds:
    to enhance the ability to purchase books, materials and technology needed to sustain the University's intellectual excellence.
    Minimum $ 15,000
  • Dean's or Academic Director's Initiative Fund:
    to provide unrestricted annual income to support initiatives by a Dean or Director.
    Minimum $ 1,000,000
  • Provost's Initiative Fund:
    to provide unrestricted annual income to support initiatives by the Provost of the University.
    Minimum $ 1,500,000
  • Chancellor's Initiative Fund:
    to provide unrestricted annual income to be used by the Chancellor to meet priority and discretionary needs.
    Minimum $ 2,000,000