How does a gift to the endowment work?
Endowment gifts do not fund programs directly, but are instead invested to generate income that in turn provides annual support for the beneficiary programs in perpetuity. By providing a dedicated stream of income—in support of a scholarship fund or professorship, for example—an endowment gift ensures the stability of that scholarship fund or professorship. Endowing an existing program, fund, or professorship, rather than a new one, is doubly beneficial because it frees up money that Columbia can redirect to other areas of need. Donors can work with fundraisers to identify how to structure an endowment gift to best support beneficiaries of the donors’ choosing.
