The James Madison University Foundation endowment grows through new gifts to JMU and prudent investment management. The endowment comprises many separate endowment funds, each of which reflects the thoughtful and generous investments of donors to JMU.

An endowment fund is a permanent, self-sustaining source of funding, each of which comes with its own criteria about how the income is to be used and for what purpose. These criteria are specified by the donor.

These endowment funds are invested in the market. Each year, a portion of the value of each fund is expended to support the fund’s purpose. Earnings in excess of the expenditure remain in the endowment to continue to build the fund’s market value. In this way, an endowment fund can grow and provide support for its designated purpose in perpetuity.

The endowment will help to ensure the strength and stability of JMU for future generations. When you establish an endowment fund, you create a permanent legacy of support for James Madison University.

Scholarships and academics are the two largest fund designations chosen by donors. Approximately 57 percent of donors designate their funds for scholarships, while 17 percent have chosen to support academic programs.