Endowments

Establish an Endowment and Make a Lasting Impact

It is increasingly difficult for many students and their families to afford the costs of college. Too many students have to rely on loans that later undermine their ability to pursue careers in the helping professions – like education and social work – and still service their debt load. At Bridgewater, we want deserving students to have access to all the opportunities we offer and you can help by establishing an endowed gift.

An endowed fund is an enduring way to perpetuate your values for generations to come. You can specify criteria for the gift, and the income it generates is then used to provide annual support for students who meet your criteria. The gift can be endowed in your name or in the name of someone you would like to honor – and BSU will provide annual financial statements and information about your scholarship recipients. All donors are invited to participate in events or special meetings arranged to showcase the impact of their philanthropy.

A minimum gift or pledge of $25,000 is necessary to endow a scholarship. Typically, this is in the form of a one-time donation, a pledge commitment payable over a period of up to 5 years, or a transfer of assets. Confirmed deferred gift intentions or gifts of tangible property may also be used to establish an endowment.

Existing endowments at BSU play a vital role in furthering faculty and student research, securing new academic equipment for classrooms and laboratories, creating scholarships for study at Bridgewater and abroad, and more. Our endowed assets are managed by a carefully selected Investment Committee, and we strive to preserve and enhance the endowment principal while providing a steady source of interest income.

To learn more about how you can endow a fund, contact Mary Abbott of University Advancement at 508.531.1288 or m3abbott@bridgew.edu.