In an effort to create a sustainable financial future for the Southern University and A&M College System, the Southern University System Foundation encourages benefactors to consider an endowment gift. An endowment is a lasting investment in excellence — the principal gift remains intact, while its earnings provide annual support for a program of the donor’s choice.
Our current endowment programs include:
A minimum gift of $80,000
Endowed professorships help Southern University recruit and retain exceptional faculty whose teaching, research, and service advance the mission of their campus and the state. Supported through a public–private partnership with the Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund (BoRSF), these professorships strengthen academic excellence and innovation across the Southern University System.
Under the BoRSF Endowed Professorships Subprogram, a minimum corpus of $100,000 is required to establish each professorship. The Board of Regents provides a $40,000 match for every $60,000 in private contributions from a four-year campus, expanding the reach and long-term impact of donor gifts. These endowments help retain high-value faculty and ensure their continued productivity as educators and scholars, enriching the academic experience for generations to come.
For donors seeking to make transformational investments, the Endowed Chairs for Eminent Scholars Program offers a powerful opportunity to recruit faculty of national and international distinction. Established with a minimum $1 million corpus—typically $600,000 in private funds matched with $400,000 from the Board of Regents—this program supports exceptional scholars whose leadership, research, and teaching elevate both their discipline and the University’s global profile.
A minimum gift of $50,000
An endowed scholarship provides a permanent source of financial support for deserving students, helping to expand access to higher education. Your gift is invested, and the earnings fund scholarships year after year—creating a legacy that endures. Scholarships may be named to honor a loved one or reflect areas of personal passion, such as STEM, first-generation students, or graduate research.
Through the Louisiana Board of Regents Endowed Scholarship Program, eligible gifts may qualify for a state matching opportunity that enhances their long-term impact. Scholarships are funded at a ratio of $60,000 in private contributions matched with $40,000 from the Board of Regents for four-year institutions, and $30,000 private matched with $20,000 state funds for two-year campuses.
Recipients of Board of Regents–matched endowed scholarships must be Louisiana residents, first-generation college students, and federal Pell Grant recipients, ensuring that endowed gifts directly support those with the greatest financial need and academic promise.
A minimum gift of $50,000
A donor advised fund (DAF) allows individuals and families to make a significant charitable investment, receive an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants to University initiatives over time. Once established, the Foundation retains stewardship of the fund, while donors maintain advisory privileges regarding distributions and investment focus. This flexible option empowers benefactors to engage strategically with the University’s priorities.
A minimum gift of $10,000
Named in honor of Southern University’s visionary leader, the Felton Grandison Clark Endowed Fellowship advances the mission and sustainability of historically Black colleges and universities. The fellowship generates annual income to support academic innovation and leadership development. Donors may establish a regular fellowship with a minimum gift of $10,000 or a distinguished fellowship with a gift of $100,000 or more, through cash or planned giving.
If you would like to speak with a staff member before making an endowment gift, please fill out this form and a member of the Southern University System Foundation team will contact you soon. Otherwise, make your investment today using the form below.