Endowed Scholarship Funds Endowed scholarship funds exist in perpetuity because it is a portion of the interest income from the endowment, not the principal, that serves as the source for scholarship funding. Preserving the principal enables Northern students to benefit from your generosity year after year. Establishing an Endowed Scholarship A permanent endowment fund may be established at NIU with a minimum contribution of $25,000 to the NIU Foundation. Or, a smaller initial gift may be made with a pledge to reach the $25,000 minimum within an additional 36 month period. These funds are placed in the NIU Foundation's endowment pool and invested under the direction of the NIU Foundation Board of Directors. Each year, a percentage of the earnings, as determined by the Board, is awarded to capable and deserving students to help meet tuition and living expenses. Earnings and appreciation in excess of the expendable amount are reinvested into the fund, allowing it to grow over time and generate increased income in the future or to maintain the value of the original gift. Funding an Endowed Scholarship An endowed scholarship may be established by an organization or an individual through an outright gift of cash, securities, a bequest, a planned gift such as a charitable remainder trust, or a combination of giving methods that suit the donor's financial situation. The NIU Development staff works with donors to create a scholarship fund consistent with their wishes and benefits students. Funds may be named after the donor, in memory of a friend or family member, in honor of an individual or organization, or in any other way the donor prefers. For more information, contact John Bass at (815) 753-1859 or e-mail jbass@niu.edu.   Current list of endowed scholarships Please Note: This document can be viewed by downloading Adobe Acrobat Reader