Editor's note: This story first appeared in the winter 2020 issue of the Hearts Together, a special joint campus magazine publication of Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor.
Many have heard the term “endowment,” but are not sure what it means or why it is important. Here is a brief summary of how endowments help prepare the way into the future for our students.
Endowments are funds, donated by alumni and friends, that are set aside for perpetuity. These funds are carefully invested by the board, and a portion of the endowment is made available each year for scholarships or program support. Endowments may represent the gifts of many individuals, as in the case of the Church Work Endowment, or someone may personally establish one of these funds to honor a loved one.
Gifts to endowments can be made with current funds (cash, check, credit card, stock gift) or with an estate gift, such as a bequest, life insurance, or a retirement account.
Those who establish an endowment or include Concordia University in their estate plan become members of the Heritage Society at CUW or the Krieger Society at CUAA. Both of these societies recognize alumni and friends who are preparing the way for Concordia and our students.
Read more about how you can give to Concordia below:
Prepare the way through a monthly gift
Prepare the way through uncommon giving
Please note: For a limited time, we have a match available for endowment gifts only. All gifts above a minimum threshold made with current funds are being matched dollar for dollar. For many donors, this special offer makes it possible to establish a named endowment to support our students.
If you would like to learn more about endowments, our available match, or planning for an estate gift, please call Roy Peterson at 262-243-4533.
Read more about Concordia’s mission here.
The winter 2020 Hearts Together magazine hit mailboxes in mid-November. View a PDF version of the magazine here. If you are not on our mailing list, but are interested in receiving a free copy, email Jennifer.Hackmann@cuaa.edu.
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If this story has inspired you, why not explore how you can help further Concordia's mission through giving.