Undergraduate Scholarships

A named endowed scholarship is a fund where the initial gift - the principal - is invested and the earnings from the investment are distributed to the recipient(s) as financial assistance. The principal remains untouched, thereby providing a permanent source of funding and growing as investment returns grow, allowing for growth in the scholarship awards over time as well.   Donors who establish named endowed scholarships have the option of naming the fund and establishing eligibility criteria for the selection of recipients.

A minimum commitment of $30,000 is required to establish an endowed scholarship, although many scholarships exceed that amount. This gift may be made in several ways:

• paid in a lump sum, usually cash or securities;
• pledged over a period not to exceed five (5) years;
• established through an estate gift; or
• a combination of the above.

Graduate Fellowships and Scholarships

Endowed fellowships and endowed graduate scholarships are funds where the initial gift - the principal - is invested and the earnings from the investment are distributed to the recipient(s) as financial assistance. The principal remains untouched, thereby providing a permanent source of funding and growing as investment returns grow, allowing for growth in the fellowship or scholarship awards over time as well. Donors who establish an endowed fellowship or scholarship have the option of naming the fund and establishing eligibility criteria for the selection of recipients.

A minimum commitment of $150,000 is required to establish a named endowed fellowship or $50,000 to establish a named endowed graduate scholarship, although many endowments exceed that amount. This gift may be made in several ways:

• paid in a lump sum, usually cash or securities;
• pledged over a period not to exceed five (5) years;
• established through an estate gift; or
• a combination of the above.

Note: Information related to amounts required to establish an endowed fund at MSU are indicated as current minimum amounts. The actual amount necessary to establish a named endowed fund must be negotiated with the university and may differ depending on what the donor wishes to accomplish through the endowed fund and the timing of a gift, especially as this pertains to future or planned gifts. For more information, contact:

Development Office
College of Education
518 Erickson Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1034
517.432.1983