Endowments

An endowment is a permanent fund which earns annual interest income through the endowment pool of the University of Illinois Foundation. The income earned is then used for the purpose specified by the donor. Since the principle of the fund is never used, the endowment remains in perpetuity.

Endowments will be used to secure the infrastructure of our College by providing support for the faculty, students, and academic programs in perpetuity. There are many levels of endowed gifts that will assist the College in continuing to provide such support. Each of the endowments listed below is a named fund, which means the fund may be named as a legacy to the donor or as a memorial for whomever the donor wishes.

Endowed Faculty Chair

An Endowed Faculty Chair fund allows the College to attract and retain professors of proven brilliance. The income from the endowed fund may be used to provide full or partial salary support and much of the professor's specific teaching and research expenses. A $2 million gift is necessary to establish an Endowed Faculty Chair.

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Endowed Professorship

Endowed Professorship funds help the College attract and retain promising professors early in their careers. This is one way to ensure the continued quality of the College's faculty. The income from the fund may be used to augment the professor's salary or support the professor's scholarly and research needs. A minimum gift of $500,000 is required to establish an Endowed Professorship. The College of Applied Health Sciences is currently working to establish The Brightbill/Sapora Professorship in Recreation in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism.

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Endowed Fellow

An Endowed Fellow fund enables the College to invite scholars and others who have distinguished themselves in their fields to visit campus and share their expertise with students and faculty. Income generated from these endowments will be used to provide stipends to visiting fellows. A $250,000 minimum gift is required to establish an Endowed Fellow.

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Endowed Research Fund

Named Research funds support various aspects of the College's research activities. Income from the fund may be used to purchase such things as laboratory equipment, research materials, computer equipment, or pay for staff support. A minimum gift of $200,000 is required to establish an Endowed Research Fund.

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Endowed Lecture Series

An Endowed Lecture Series allows faculty and students to interact with distinguished leaders who are influencing disciplines, society, the nation, or the world. Income from the fund is used to provide the resources to cover the expenses of bringing such speakers to campus. A minimum gift of $100,000 is necessary to establish an Endowed Lecture Series.

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Endowed Graduate Fellowship/Assistantship

Such funds provide a crucial means of attracting some of the best and brightest graduate students in the world to the College. Income from the fund will be applied toward the support of selected students. A minimum gift of $150,000 is needed to establish an Endowed Graduate Fellowship or Assistantship.

The first fully-funded endowed fellowship in the College of Applied Health Sciences was established in 2003. A gift of $500,000 from William A. and Carol L. Chittenden of Elmhurst funds a fellowship and graduate award in the Department of General Engineering as well as a scholarship and fellowship in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health. The fellowships promote collaborative, interdisciplinary research between the departments.

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Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship

An endowment of this kind is needed to continue to attract the finest undergraduate students. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit. Income from the fund will be applied toward the selected student's tuition. A minimum gift of $25,000 is needed to set up an Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship.

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Other Endowed Funds

An unlimited variety of other Endowed Funds may be established to support a wide range of donor interests. Gifts of this nature can contribute greatly to the future of the College in many diverse ways. Minimum gifts of $10,000 are needed to establish these types of Endowed Funds.

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