Types of Scholarships
Endowed scholarships, which exist in perpetuity, create a legacy that lasts from one generation to the next because the principal remains intact, while only a portion of the earnings is used to provide financial aid. Endowed scholarships may be named for the supporter or for someone whom a supporter wishes to memorialize or honor.
Found a scholarship that you want to support or want to establish one that fits your giving goals? Make your gift online or email giving@webster.edu.
Endowed Funds Frequently Asked Questions
Endowment funds are critical to the financial health of higher education and are essential to the University’s ability to provide high-quality, affordable and accessible education. Donations designated for the endowment are held in perpetuity and invested to provide long-term growth while simultaneously providing an annual distribution to support current institutional needs. Each year, Webster distributes a percentage of the fund’s value, the “allocation amount,” to a designated area according to each donor’s wishes. By preserving the endowment principal, the distributions can forever support student scholarships, professorships, ongoing building maintenance or other priorities as directed by the donor.
What is the minimum to establish an endowment fund and when will it begin to pay out?
Endowed funds start at $5,000 for Webster University’s Community Music School and go up to $1 million or more depending on the type of fund and the donor’s intent. Endowed scholarships, our most common type of endowed fund, have a minimum of $25,000. Per University policy, funds begin to pay out when the pledge amount is fulfilled in its entirety and an allocation meets our spending policy.
When does my endowment fund begin to pay out to the area I’ve designated?
Once the pledge is fulfilled for the endowed fund you’ve created and the fund balance exceeds the fund corpus (the sum of all contributions, payments and matches made to the fund since its inception), an allocation amount is possible. The allocation amount for the upcoming academic year is set once per year as of Dec. 31.
If the allocation, as calculated under the University’s spending policy, would reduce the fund’s market value as of Dec. 31 to an amount less than its corpus value, the award will be limited to the difference between corpus value and the Dec. 31 market value. If the fund’s market value as of Dec. 31 is less than its corpus value, no allocation will be available. University policy forbids erosion of the corpus of an endowed fund by deficit spending. The University’s endowment expenditure rate is established by its Board of Trustees. Currently, it is the average of the preceding 12 quarters as of the preceding Dec. 31, multiplied by 4.5%, less administration fees.
Definition of Report Terms on your Individualized Fund Report
- Fund Corpus: The sum of all contributions, payments and matches made to the fund since its inception.
- Fund Balance: The total amount in the fund, including fund corpus plus fund return.
- Allocation Amount: The amount of payout to be awarded that academic year for the donor’s designated purpose. The fund allocation is based on a 12-calendar-quarter average market value, multiplied by the rate established by the Board of Trustees, less any administrative fees. University policy forbids erosion of the corpus of an endowed fund by deficit spending.
The Gift of Education
Webster University offers scholarships for countless purposes, funded and awarded at multiple thresholds. The generosity of annual and endowed scholarship donors allows us to offer new opportunities, both in the number of scholarships available to students and the variety of scholarship opportunities.
“It is a high honor to be the recipient of these scholarships! The support and generosity stemming from [them] fueled my ambition to graduate with a degree in Computer Science.”
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund for Disadvantaged Students and the Anna Barbara Sakurai Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
“From a young age, I realized the importance of technology and education as they are keys to a better future, while empowering others. There are so many areas in society that can be positively impacted by computer science. With these scholarships, I can continue to push my dreams forward and plan to be at the forefront of the industry with the hopes of innovation and inspiration.”
Webster University Provides Reporting to Scholarship Supporters
- Annual scholarship reports from the Community Resource Development Office notifying you of the recipient(s) of your scholarship each academic year.
- All scholarship recipients are encouraged to send a letter or video of gratitude which Webster forwards to the supporter of their scholarship.
- Invitation to Webster’s scholarship event where supporters and various scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to connect.
- For endowed funds, all supporters receive an annual endowment report on the financial status of their fund.
- All scholarships are advertised in our digital scholarship guide on numerous Webster websites to aid students in applying and to show gratitude towards supporters.
- Opportunities to engage with Webster leadership, faculty and staff through various activities and events.
- All scholarship gifts are tax deductible.
There is no greater gift than the opportunity for access and success for Webster students as they pursue their dreams through higher education.
A Message of Thanks from Gorlok Graduates
The gift of education allows access and success for Webster University students. As we celebrate more than 4,000 students who graduated from Webster in May 2022, the graduates shared a message of gratitude to scholarship donors who supported their educational journey.
Transcript
[Instrumental music plays]
[Graduates walking in caps and gowns during commencement ceremonies all over campus.]
Text on screen: Igho
Igho- wearing commencement colors: Well, I want to say a big thank you to the supporters that donate to Webster University.
Text on screen: Erik
Erik in commencement robe: Learning is one of the most important things in life and so thank you for your support and helping me to do just that.
[Footage of graduates hugging and smiling all over campus, walking across stages shaking hands and collecting diplomas.]
Text on screen: Phillip
Phillip in a commencement robe, cords and cap: To any of the donors out there — I just want to say thank you — it’s really appreciated.
Igho: Because of them, I’m here. I came here knowing nobody, I came here as an international student and so far, I am graduating with no debt. And I hope one day when I'm rich and famous, I can donate as well.
Text on screen: Millenia
Millenia in a commencement robe, colors, and cap: Our commencement speaker said something earlier that it is important that we entrust in the youth that is coming up, and I really do feel like this is a great way to do that. And we're happy that we're able to represent Webster — it's such a great school and that you are able to invest in our dream, as well, so thank you! We did, we did it!
Text on screen: Thank you!
