The St. John’s Endowment is a collection of nearly 500 individual endowed funds that have been established over the years by alumni and friends of St. John’s College. Some of these funds are broad in scope and support multiple priorities. Others, such as individual scholarships, are highly specific in nature and are often named in ways that reflect the values and interests of the donor. Together they provide a permanent source of financial support that benefits the Johnnies of today and the Johnnies to come.

Unlike more conventional gifts that are immediately spent, endowments are instruments of perpetual giving. When you support the St. John’s endowment by establishing a new endowed fund or by contributing to an existing endowed fund, your gift is not spent but is instead invested for the long term—much like a retirement account. Each year, a percentage of the net asset value (typically between 4.5 and 5.5 percent) is distributed to support the fund’s purpose. The remaining assets stay invested, thereby maintaining—or even growing—the fund’s spending power over time.  

For example, an endowed scholarship established with a $100,000 gift can expect to yield approximately $5,000 annually for scholarship support. As the fund’s value grows, so too will the distributions and, therefore, the amount available for scholarships. In this respect, an endowment is not just a gift—it is a gift for all time.

We will be happy to guide you through the experience. In general, the process will involve the following steps:

Embrace your passion. You have the power to determine how your gift will support the college. Whatever your interest, there are students and tutors who will benefit.

Name your fund. By naming your endowment, you can permanently honor your family, a loved one, a tutor, a mentor, or even a cherished ideal.

Document your intentions. When you are ready to finalize your gift, we will document your intentions in a signed gift agreement. Once established, your endowed fund will be used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the agreement.

Make your gift. An endowed fund can be established immediately with a single gift of cash or stock, over time through a multi-year pledge commitment, or in the future with a planned gift. Our Ways to Give page describes convenient options for immediate gifts and pledges, while our Gift Planning site can help you plan your gift through your estate.

Once the minimum gift threshold has been met and your endowment is fully funded, it will be pooled with St. John’s other endowed assets (for investment purposes only) and invested with the goal of generating a strong performance return.

Watch the future unfold. The fund will begin to yield awards in support of your priorities after the fund has been fully endowed and invested for one full investing cycle. Our development team, whose mission is to care for you and your gift, will provide you with regular updates on your fund’s status, growth, and impact on the college.

Magnify your legacy. Your gift already has the potential to grow over time through the college’s investment strategy, but you can also multiply those effects by making additional gifts to your endowment at any time.

Yes! St. John’s offers special opportunities to name not only your endowed fund but also the program or initiative your gift supports.