Endowment Gifts
Endowed funds are the basis for everything Carolina must do: recruit the best students and faculty, generate trailblazing research and work for a better world. By generating a steady stream of income while leaving the principal untouched, endowment makes it possible for Carolina to respond to unforeseen opportunities and weather the ebb and flow of state funding.
An endowed gift is one in which the original principal is never invaded; the gift exists in perpetuity. Endowment funds are excellent ways to support a school, department or unit on campus. Endowments are generally fully funded within five years of the initial contribution, and income paid out of the fund is distributed to the benefiting area on an annual basis. The minimum amount for establishing an endowed fund benefiting the University is currently $20,000, but there is no minimum gift amount if you wish to contribute to an existing endowment.
The University also has minimums for establishing other types of endowed funds such as scholarships, fellowships and professorships. You may also designate your life income gift to support an endowment fund at the end of your life. Popular ways to support the University are through the establishment of a scholarship or professorship.
Investment Policy
At Carolina, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Foundation Investment Fund, Inc. (Investment Fund) invests the endowment funds of the University as well as other endowment funds held by affiliated foundations. The Investment Fund calculates the yearly distribution rate in accordance with the policy set by its Board. In order to provide a stable, growing distribution while maintaining growth of principal, the Investment Fund generally makes an annual distribution according to an inflation adjusted formula. This method provides a stable level of distribution. The distribution will be spent for the purpose that you specify. Currently, the distribution rate for most endowment funds is approximately five percent.
Minimums
Please click below, or scroll, to find out the minimum requirements for establishing new endowments. In addition, many opportunities are available for named expendable funds and capital projects.
If you have questions about any of these gifts, please contact:
Candace Clark
Associate Director of Planned Giving
Office of University Development
candace_clark@unc.edu
(919) 962-3967
Faculty Support
Endowed professorships are a top University priority and a valued naming opportunity for you. These professorships help Carolina recruit and retain outstanding faculty. All endowed funds supplement faculty salaries, while higher levels support expenditures for course development, research, graduate assistants, equipment and library resources.
Professorships are used to create and support new faculty positions or to retain outstanding faculty members currently on staff, attract internationally prominent teacher-scholars and support their teaching and research. Professors contribute to the campus intellectual climate, bolster Carolina 's reputation and attract talented young faculty, graduate students and undergraduates to the University.
Because excellent teaching and research benefit the citizens of the state, the North Carolina General Assembly established a fund to match private donations for endowed professorships. All professorships that are partially funded by the State of North Carolina Distinguished Professors Endowment Fund must include “Distinguished” in the title.
This fund provides the following levels of supplemental grants:
—Grants of $667,000 to match private gifts of $2,333,000 and up, establishing $3 million endowments.
—Grants of $667,000 to match private gifts of $1,333,000 and up, establishing $2 million endowments.
—Grants of $500,000 to match private gifts of $1,000,000 and up, establishing $1.5 million endowments.
—Grants of $334,000 to match private gifts of $666,000 and up, establishing $1 million endowments.
—Grants of $167,000 to match private gifts of $333,000 and up, establishing $500,000 endowments
Minimums to establish professorships, with or without a state matching grant, are:
Eminent Professorships - $3,000,000
To create and support a new faculty position, attract internationally prominent teacher-scholars and support their teaching and research. Eminent Professors will contribute greatly to the campus intellectual climate will contribute to the campus intellectual climate, bolster Carolina 's reputation and attract talented young faculty, graduate students and undergraduates to the University.
Professorships
To recruit rising academic stars and retain its own outstanding faculty members whose growing prominence is attracting the notice of other institutions. Funds can be established at the following minimum levels:
—$2.0 million endowments
—$1.5 million endowments
—$1.0 million endowments
—$500,000 endowments
Visiting Professorships - $500,000
To bring outstanding visitors to teach, do research and be available as resources for the whole University community.
Endowed Term Professorships - $250,000
To provide support for teaching and research. Recipients are named for a period usually not exceeding five years. Term professorships do not qualify for a state matching grant.
Faculty Scholars - $1,000,000
To provide salary and research stipends as well as other collateral support for outstanding mid-career faculty. Appointments are time-limited and renewable and may be awarded for the duration of a faculty member’s full-time service at the rank of associate professor.
Faculty Fellowships - $500,000
To provide salary enhancement, research funds and other collateral support for outstanding junior faculty. Appointments are time-limited and renewable and may be awarded for the duration of a faculty member’s full-time service at the rank of assistant professor.
Career Development Award - $250,000
To provide crucial non-salary support to early and mid-career faculty for teaching and scholarly needs, including research assistants, travel and the acquisition of special materials.
Teaching Excellence Funds - $100,000
To provide support to recognize outstanding teaching.
Faculty Development Funds - $50,000
To provide support to develop courses, strengthen teaching and engage in research and other professional activities.
Graduate Student Support
-Graduate Fellowships - minimum $300,000
(To recruit and support outstanding graduate students.)
-Dissertation Fellowships - minimum $100,000
(To support graduate students as they focus on their dissertations to complete their degrees.)
-Professional School Scholarships - minimum $100,000
(To recruit and support outstanding professional school students.)
-Graduate Enhancement Awards - minimum $100,000
(To recruit and support graduate and professional school students in conjunction with other University support.)
Undergraduate Student Support
-Carolina Scholars (out of state) - minimum $400,000
(To recruit and support outstanding students based on distinguished academic achievement with an annual scholarship of a minimum of $15,000, renewable for four years.)
-Carolina Scholars (in state) - minimum $200,000
(To recruit and support outstanding students from North Carolina based on distinguished academic achievement with an annual scholarship of a minimum of $7,500, renewable for four years.)
-Old Well Scholars - minimum $120,000
(To recruit and help support students from North Carolina based on distinguished academic achievement with an annual scholarship of a minimum of $6,000, renewable for four years.)
-Carolina Covenant Scholars - minimum $100,000
(To provide support for low-income students to graduate debt-free. To be eligible, a family's income may not exceed 200% of the federal poverty standard, and the family must also qualify for federal student financial aid.)
-Founders Scholars - minimum $60,000
(To provide an annual merit-based scholarship of a minimum of $3,000 to a North Carolina student, renewable for four years.)
-Departmental Academic Scholarships - minimum $50,000
(To recognize and support upper-class students based on distinguished academic achievement.)
-Undergraduate Need-based Scholarships - minimum $25,000
(To support students based on a combination of financial need and academic record.)
-Undergraduate Research Awards - minimum $20,000
(To help students pursue research projects in collaboration with faculty members.)
Program Support
-Guest Lectureships - minimum $50,000
(To provide support for guest lectures.)
-Departmental Funds - minimum $20,000
(To provide departmental support of teaching, research and public service activities.)
Library Support
Named Funds for Collections Support
(minimums $20,000 - $1,000,000)
Gifts create named endowed funds in the Academic Affairs, Health Sciences or Law Libraries. Funds support the acquisition of library materials in a specific field or collection, the work associated with a collection, preservation of library materials, advances in information technology or the areas of greatest need. These funds also provide financial support for acquisitions within disciplines and the special collections.
Support for Librarians and Scholars:
-The University Librarian - minimum $2,000,000
(Support for the position.)
-Library Director, Health Sciences and Law Libraries - minimum $1,000,000
(Support for the position.)
-Named Curator of a Special Collection - minimum $1,000,000
(Support for the Manuscripts including Southern Historical, North Carolina and Rare Book Collection.)
-Named Departmental Librarian - minimum $500,000
(Provides support to departmental libraries or collections.)
-Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships -- minimums $30,000 - $100,000
(Supplemental support to graduate students or post-graduate librarians to conduct advanced research and development projects in the library.)
