Endowment Gifts
Endowment gifts from alumni and friends provide a permanent investment in Cal Poly’s future. An endowment sustains academic excellence by ensuring a continuous source of funding for hands-on learning, new laboratories, merit scholarships, and faculty research. From major gifts that recruit prestigious scholars to targeted gifts that support an annual student prize in a specialized field, each endowment fund enriches the campus.
When endowment gifts are received, the principal is held in perpetuity, with part of the annual earnings generating ongoing support for activities designated by the donor. Although state appropriations, tuition levels, and fundraising revenue might fluctuate annually, the stability of an endowment encourages strategic planning and program expansion. |
Cal Poly’s combined endowment pool has experienced phenomenal growth due to careful management of assets and the increasing generosity of donors. During the past decade, the University’s endowment resources grew over one thousand percent. Prudent investment policies balance stocks and bonds for asset diversity to maintain purchasing power over time and overcome inflation in higher education costs. For details,
Download "Enhancing Cal Poly's Future: The Cal Poly Foundation Endowment."
Named funds not only make a lasting impact at Cal Poly, but also offer the opportunity to honor your family’s commitment to the University or pay tribute to a loved one. Endowments can be established through contributions of cash, stock, real estate, charitable remainder trusts, or bequests. Pledged payments, normally on a three-year timeline, are welcome.
To discuss endowment funds, please contact Stacy Cannon, Director of Planned Giving and Endowments by phone at (800) 549-2666 or (805) 756-7125 or by email at plannedgiving@calpoly.edu.
For additional information on establishing an endowment fund at Cal Poly, please follow the links below.
Profile in Giving: The Maher Family and Alumnus James Brennan
The Maher Family's support for Cal Poly started with students. "After paying tuition to Cal Poly for 12 years, we just decided to keep writing checks and support other students," says Jack Maher.
Mechanical Engineering Alumnus James Brennan has always been an ambassador for understanding. With the help of the Korean G.I. Bill, Jim enrolled at Cal Poly in 1958. His career led him to General Electric, BART, and then to the decision to become an independent energy consultant. Jim's endowment was the product of careful thought: "When looking at the options available to us - my wife and I were working on estate planning - I first thought of a charitable remainder trust, but decided against it. The recipient would have to wait for our deaths - we were trying to figure how to get this thing rolling. Also, the gift of appreciated stocks helped us financially. We don't have to pay capital gains, I can turn it over and get something started, plus receive a tax benefit. It was the best possible option."
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