Endowment FAQs

An endowment is a permanent fund established for a specific purpose. You may designate the fund in your own name, as a tribute to a friend or loved one, or to honor a professor or mentor. You can establish an endowment with cash, securities, real estate or through a bequest.  The choice is up to you. Gifts to endowments are invested to create a lasting resource that grows in perpetuity.

Endowed funds are the bulwark for everything the University 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 earnings make it possible for the University to respond to unforeseen opportunities and weather the ebb and flow of state funding, tuition income and federal government grant making. Whatever your interest in supporting faculty and academic programs, there is most likely an area on campus that can benefit through an endowment.

It depends. A scholarship reaches the minimum endowment level at $30,000, while endowed positions require a minimum of $250,000 to $1 million.

All endowments require a fully signed gift agreement developed by the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation and approved by the appropriate University representative(s). The gift agreement will outline the mutually agreed upon terms and may contain biographical information about the donor(s) as well as the donor's(s') motivation for creation of the endowment.

Endowments may be established over a one- to five-year period with a one-time gift or a multi-year pledged commitment. Once the appropriate minimum endowment level is reached and a gift agreement is complete, funds are invested on a prescribed cycle and the first payout date is dependent upon when funds are added to the endowment.

General

Earnings from the general endowment of the University provide a solid foundation and assure an annual income that benefits scholarships, professorships, research funds, book funds and other designations. Gifts of any size can be made to the University's existing general endowment.

Student scholarships

Endowed scholarships make a difference in the University's ability to attract and retain the best and brightest students, many of whom without financial aid would be unable to pursue their educational goals. The minimum gift to establish an endowed scholarship is $30,000.  It should be noted that existing endowed scholarships accept gifts from anyone who would like to support deserving students.

Faculty positions

• Chair: Minimum gift of $1,000,000.
• Professorship: Minimum gift of $500,000.
• Faculty Scholar: Minimum gift of $250,000.

The faculty who have been brought to campus to teach our students and to perform high-impact research through the generosity of our donors can be found on our donor-supported faculty positions page. 

For endowed funds, all donors receive an annual endowment report on the financial status of their fund. In addition, there is peace of mind that the fund will provide perpetual support according to the intended purpose.

All endowments are noted in the Nevada Silver & Blue magazine Spring Donor Issue.

Donor profiles may, with the approval of donor, be developed for issues of Nevada Silver & Blue magazine or other University, school/college publications or online outlets.

Foundation and development staff are always available to answer questions about your endowment.

Yes, all gifts made for the purpose of establishing an endowment or to an existing endowment are deductible for income tax purposes to the extent provided by law.

Gifts made by employees or spouses of employees who work for, or who retired from corporations that match charitable gifts, may be eligible to receive matching gifts.

The faculty who have been brought to campus to teach our students and to perform high-impact research through the generosity of our donors can be found on our donor-supported faculty positions page.