How to Give

Endowment Levels

Endowment Levels

Endowed funds are never spent. Instead, they’re invested. And it’s the earnings from these investments that go to help the programs you choose to support. That means each gift designated for endowment provides permanent financial support. 

When you create an endowed fund, you give the endowment your name or the name of a person or organization you wish to honor.

In general, endowments are usually created for a specific purpose under a specific name, with a minimum amount required to establish a new endowment. However, on occasion, additional, smaller gifts may generally be added to an existing fund (e.g. endowments established specifically for annual donor contributions). If you have a question about making a gift to an existing endowment, please email us or call 217-333-0909.

Please consider the following endowment options:

NAMED DEANSHIP

Minimum Gift: $5,000,000

The University uses Named Dean funds to support non-salary, one-time expenses for his or her department.

  • To be used for unrestricted support for the unit at the discretion of the Dean under current policies and procedures of the University
  • Specific funding level for each unit will be approved by the Provost and Chancellor
  • Gifts received for the Named Dean may not be used for additional naming opportunities
  • Once a Dean’s position has been named, all successors will be accorded this title. This title will be included in the Board of Trustees approval process for faculty appointments.

Minimum Gift: $3,500,000

Named Director/Department Head funds provide unrestricted support for non-salary, one-time expenses of the unit.

  • To be used for unrestricted support for non-recurring expenses of the unit (non-salary) at the discretion of the Director or Department Head under current policies and procedures of the University
  • Specific funding level for each unit will be approved by the Provost and Chancellor
  • Gifts received for the Named Director/Department Head may not be used for additional naming opportunities
  • Once a Department head position has been named, all successors will be accorded this title. This title will be included in the Board of Trustees approval process for faculty appointments.

NAMED CHAIR

Minimum Gift: $2,000,000

The endowed chair represents the highest honor the University can confer on prominent faculty members. Endowed chairs help attract and retain brilliant scholars. By providing dedicated resources for innovative research and teaching opportunities, endowed chairs enable the most gifted faculty members and administrators to excel in their scholarly activities.

  • Provides support to a faculty chair holder under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus
  • May be used for retention and recruitment
  • May include expenses directly related to the chair
  • For College positions, the Dean may select the chair subject to the approval of the appropriate University officials and the Board of Trustees; Campus-wide chairs may be selected by the Provost subject to the approval of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees.

NAMED PROFESSORSHIP

Minimum Gift: $500,000

Named professorships allow the University to recruit promising researchers and teachers from around the world and encourage them to expand their careers at Illinois.

  • Provides support to a faculty professorship holder under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus
  • May be used for faculty support, awards, retention or recruitment
  • May include expenses directly related to the professorship
  • For College positions, the Dean may select the professor subject to the approval of the appropriate University officials and the Board of Trustees; Campus-wide professors may be selected by the Provost subject to the approval of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees.

NAMED FACULTY SCHOLAR

Minimum Gift: $250,000

A named faculty scholarship provides support to faculty members under current governing policies and procedures of the University and campus.

  • Provides support to faculty members under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus
  • May be used for faculty support and awards

NAMED RESEARCH FUND

Minimum Gift: $200,000

The research conducted on the University of Illinois campuses is some of the world’s most sophisticated and challenging.

  • Provides support for research under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus

NAMED GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

Minimum Gift: $250,000

In any great university, excellence in teaching and research requires outstanding graduate students. Talented graduate students inspire their undergraduate students. They serve as creative research team members. Many go on to become distinguished college and university professors.

Endowed graduate fellowships and assistantships help us compete with our peers to bring the world's best and brightest graduate students to Illinois.

  • Provides financial stipend for graduate student(s) under current University and Campus policies
  • Tuition and fee waivers may also be included depending on the levels established at each campus
  • Additional income may provide living stipend, supplies allowance or books and materials

NAMED SCHOLARSHIP

Minimum Gift: $25,000

The continued excellence of our University depends in part on attracting the nation’s most talented students. These students often choose their college based on its financial assistance.

  • Need based, merit based or both
  • Provides financial support for student(s) tuition and fees
  • Other expenses, such as books, supplies, parking, transportation, child care, scholarship administration expenses, room and board may be allowed.

NAMED CENTER OR INSTITUTE

Minimum Gift: $5,000,000, and upon recommendation of campus Chancellor and Provost, subject to Board of Trustees approval.

  • Provides program support for a center or institute under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus and at the discretion of the Director of the center or institute

NAMED LECTURE SERIES

Minimum Gift: $250,000

The lecture series plays an important role in the academic life of the campus, allowing students and faculty to interact with distinguished leaders. Each endowed lecture series helps us cover the expenses of bringing renowned speakers to campus. A named lecture series can be campus-wide, or established within a unit.

  • Provides support for a lecture or series of scholarly lectures by distinguished leaders who are influencing disciplines, society, the nation, or the world, under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus
  • Uses may include, but are not limited to stipends, travel, lodging, facilities, refreshments, advertising and other special activities during visits to deliver a lecture

NAMED ENDOWED FUND

Minimum Gift: $25,000

Named endowed funds may be established to support a wide range of interests, including: substantial support for new programs; journals, books, databases and other information resources; and funding for keeping up with future educational requirement.

  • Specific named endowments can be established in any campus unit to support the most pressing needs.

NAMED COLLEGE OR SCHOOL

Minimum value determined by reviewing market, and upon recommendation of campus Chancellor and Provost, subject to Board of Trustees approval.

  • Specific level for each unit will be approved by the Chancellor and Provost
  • Provides support that would be transformational for the college/unit
  • Provides unrestricted support to the unit under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus at the discretion of the current Dean or Department Head

NAMED DEPARTMENT OR UNIT

Minimum value determined by reviewing market, and upon recommendation of campus Chancellor and Provost, subject to Board of Trustees approval.

  • Specific level for each unit will be approved by the Chancellor and Provost
  • Provides unrestricted support to the unit under current governing policies and procedures of the University and Campus at the discretion of the current Dean or Department Head