Ways to Give

Endowed Funds and Expendable / Non-endowed Funds

Your gift can create an endowed fund or an expendable, non-endowed fund. Endowed funds are permanent and self-sustaining, often used to support scholarships, professorships, and other key areas in research and education. An expendable or non-endowed fund is available for immediate use by the fund’s recipient.

Endowed funds

Through investment of the donor’s principal gift (original amount), an endowed fund allows for ongoing annual spending towards the fund’s purpose. Investment income generates yearly payouts, usually around 4.5% of the fund’s market value. Any earnings above the annual payout are used to build the fund’s value to provide permanent, long-term support for its designated purpose.

Donors create endowed funds to support and sustain many causes at UNC Health and School of Medicine. Your endowment might fund a permanent named scholarship or professorship, establish a concentrated research effort, or provide patient and family support.

Expendable gifts

A non-endowed or expendable fund is a gift that is available for immediate use. The gift is not usually invested for the long term but is used to meet a pressing priority, often in the same year the gift is received.

Expendable gifts can be for restricted use, with specific instructions established by the donor, such as jumpstarting a research effort or providing student support. Expendable gifts can also be for unrestricted use, without specific designations or instructions. For example, since 2020 we’ve used your unrestricted support to meet emerging opportunities related to COVID-19 research and health equity.

Both endowed or expendable gifts can support existing funds, or they can be used to create new funds.

Tribute gifts may be made to remember a family member, friend, or colleague who has passed away or to honor a caregiver or a loved one celebrating a special occasion (birthday, wedding). For more information on tribute gifts, visit unchealthfoundation.org/tribute-gifts.

Your support is vital to the success of UNC Health. Annual gifts provide necessary funding to respond to immediate needs and emerging challenges. These gifts allow us to fulfill our mission by providing critical funding for research, training medical professionals, pioneering novel treatments and improving health outcomes.

Monthly Sustainers

Looking for the best way to support our work? Become a monthly sustainer. Monthly gifts:

• provide a reliable, steady source of income—funding important work such as research, patient care, and medical education
• are secure, convenient, and easy–eliminating the need for checks
• provide flexibility to make a larger gift over time

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Matching Gifts

You may be able to double or even triple the impact of your donation! Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees, retirees and/or even the employees’ spouses. Visit matchinggifts.com/unc to see if your employer participates. Complete the information on your online giving form:

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