What is an endowment?

An endowment fund is created when a gift or bequest is accepted so that the principal is invested intact and only earnings are spent. Donors may require that the principal remain intact in perpetuity, or for a defined period of time. All or a portion of an endowment’s income is traditionally used to support students, faculty, programs or other institutional needs.

What does an endowment do?

Endowments empower universities to better achieve their teaching, research and service mission by providing a stable source of revenue. Donors give to endowments because they believe in the institution’s mission and have confidence in its track record of using endowment funds wisely and effectively. The funds generated by endowments enable universities to further strengthen the quality of programs and service, beyond levels that tuition and fees can support.

What is Creighton’s endowment?

The endowment balance as of June 30, 2008, was $295.7 million. The endowment distribution for the 2008 fiscal year was $12.2 million and Creighton’s total operating expenses were $398,536,000. The distribution covered about 3.1 percent of our operating expenses.

If you are interested in learning more about how to make a thoughtful investment to support endowments at Creighton University, please contact Rich McCormick, senior director of major gifts, at 402.280.3483 or RichardMcCormick@creighton.edu.