What to Support

Endowments

An endowment is a permanent fund, invested for growth and income, that provides a perpetual source of funds. These funds are important to Oregon State University because they relieve the University from having to raise every single dollar it needs every single year. They provide income that the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences can depend on for supporting undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, professorships and research funds. By generating a steady stream of income while leaving the principal untouched, the endowment makes it possible for the College to respond to unforeseen opportunities and weather the ebb and flow of state funding, tuition income and federal government grant making.

Endowments can be restricted or unrestricted. The donor of an endowment fund names the endowment and can specify its purpose. Donors who establish an endowment fund in the College receive updates on the fund’s financial performance as well as its usage. The donors’ heirs may also receive these reports.

Endowment Annual Spendable
Permanent Endowment Principal $50,000 $100,000 $250,000 $500,000 $1 million
Estimated Annual Fund Payout (based on 4% est. by BOR) $2,000 $4,000 $10,000 $20,000 $40,000

Creating Named Endowment Opportunities

Undergraduate Scholarship

The need for increasing scholarship support has never been greater as costs continue to increase at all universities. By creating a named endowment, the donor will be able to establish the criteria for choosing a student in a specific program area.
(Minimum giving $50,000)

Graduate Fellowship

CEOAS needs new graduate fellowship support to compete successfully for the most promising graduate students, who in turn contribute to the university’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier research and teaching institutions and to the recruitment and retention of top faculty. Flexible fellowship support can leverage state-funded stipends to raise the total fellowship award available to top students. In this way, fellowship support enables academic program areas in the College to recruit the best and brightest candidates.
(Minimum giving $50,000)

Chairs and Program Directors

Endowed chairs and program director funds provide academic leaders critically needed monies to support the work of their departments and programs.
(Minimum giving $2 million)

Professorships

Professorships enable CEOAS to recruit, retain and support outstanding faculty. These endowed funds supplement faculty salaries as well as provide support for course development, research, graduate assistants and equipment
(Minimum giving $1 million)

Non-Endowed Gifts & Adding to Existing Program & Scholarship Support

Unrestricted Support Funds: Dean & Program Areas

Each year the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences has many expenses that are not covered by state funding. Special needs for faculty and students such as attending academic conferences or purchasing additional equipment can be covered by unrestricted money given to our support funds. You can make a donation for the Dean’s use or to a specific program area in the college.

Adding to Existing Program and Scholarship Support

To find existing scholarships and fellowships by College or program area please go to the OSU Foundation Make a Gift page and type in the name of the fund, or contact Allison Bauer, allison.bauer@osufoundation.org, 541-737-5900.