Why Support a Scholarship?

If you are an alumnus or an alumna, you don’t need to be reminded how Illinois State University transforms students. The tools you acquired at Illinois State University have enabled you to achieve goals that might otherwise be impossible. Now it is within your power to give a student the same challenge and opportunity. Over the past ten years, Illinois State University has steadily increased our commitment to need-based aid, and the investment to help our students is truly significant. A gift of any size can have an immediate impact for students.

Give to Scholarships . . .

• To Change Lives for the Better 
  The cost of a college education is out of reach for many students and their families. Your support will help students realize their dreams and goals. Scholarship gifts change lives.
• To Enhance the Learning Environment for All Students 
  Interaction with the brightest students from diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic background is one of the most unexpected yet valuable learning experiences our alumni mention when reflecting on their time on campus.
• To Strengthen the University 
  By contributing to scholarships, you lessen the need for the University to dip into operating funds to provide financial assistance to students.
• To Lead by Example 
  The student who receives a scholarship today returns the favor by becoming the scholarship donor of tomorrow. Your gift can establish a chain of philanthropy that extends far beyond your lifetime.

To Create a Lasting Legacy

By establishing an endowed scholarship, you create a lasting legacy. Endowed funds support themselves in perpetuity. The initial gift is invested, and scholarships are awarded from the investment income, preserving the principal so the fund continues to generate income for awards in future years. The minimum investment for a named endowment is $20,000. With an emerging endowment, a donor can take up to five years to build the endowment to the $20,000 level.