Development Digest
by Jeff Spoeri

One of the primary goals of The Campaign for MSU, both in the College of Education and university-wide, is to increase our endowment by raising funds that will generate income for the college in perpetuity. Endowments at the College of Education are used for many different purposes, including direct student financial assistance, faculty or research support, and symposia and lectures. Some endowed funds are undesignated for use in areas of greatest need. Endowed funds provide long-term stability and resources for the institution. They may be a fitting tribute to the donor’s commitment to the college; a memorial for a family member, friend, or mentor; or simply a straightforward way to provide perpetual support to future recipients of the endowment proceeds. Donors also may join together to create endowed funds to honor a friend, colleague, or faculty member to whom they were especially devoted.

At MSU, a named endowed fund may be established with a minimum gift of $30,000, which may be spread over a maximum five-year period. The funds donated in support of a given endowment are invested along with other endowed funds, and the income generated from the investment may be spent on the purpose of the endowment, for example, a scholarship or a faculty chair. Typically, the income, which is a set percentage of the principal as determined by the university’s Board of Trustees, is generated and spent annually, and the endowment thus provides income permanently for its stated purpose.

The advantages to the donor who creates an endowed fund are substantial. First, by its very nature, an endowment is “forever”—that is, it is an enduring legacy that will last as long as there are students to benefit from scholarship funds, faculty members to conduct research and teach, and a university to attract those people into a vibrant academic community.
Second, because it is invested with other endowed funds, its growth is enhanced by economies of scale that permit it to grow more quickly than it might on its own.

Third, the donor or donors and their descendants may look forward to the satisfaction of seeing firsthand the profound impact their gift will have for generations to come. To invoke a well-worn cliché, endowments truly are “the gifts that keep on giving.”

This year, for those of our supporters who would like to support the college through an endowment but who may not wish to establish an endowment on their own, we created an endowed account that will generate funds specifically to assist students in teacher education. This fund, called the Teacher Preparation Scholarship Fund, is forecast to generate over $25,000 for students beginning in the 2004–2005 academic year—a welcome boost to our overall scholarship and fellowship funding. We encourage donors to consider adding to this fund, which will continue to grow over the years, providing ever-increasing amounts of money to aid our students in achieving their goals of earning an education degree from MSU and embarking on a teaching career.

For more information on establishing an individual endowment, giving to the Teacher Preparation Scholarship Fund, or any other giving opportunities at the College of Education, please contact the College Development Office at (517) 432-1983. I also would welcome your e-mails to jspoeri@msu.edu  Together, we can help the college do its part to fulfill the mission of The Campaign for MSU: Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives.

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