We are grateful for your generous support, and we take seriously our responsibilities to you. LSU Foundation assets are private funds that can be used only for the benefit of LSU and in accordance with donor intent. The tenets of the Donor Bill of Rights guide our relationships with donors.
What is an Endowed Gift?
The purpose of an endowment is to provide a source of perpetual funding. Endowed gifts to the LSU Foundation fund scholarships, professorships, chairs and other programs and initiatives that are meaningful to our donors and LSU. When a donor establishes an endowment fund, that gift is invested in an LSU Foundation endowed pool to provide perpetual funding for the purpose chosen by the donor. Each year, a portion of the total return from the endowed gift can be expended as per the purpose(s) established by the donor. Currently, this portion is 4 percent of the 5-year rolling average of the market value, a spending rate that is comparable to those of our peer institutions.
Endowment Investing
CA Capital Management, Cambridge Associates’ dedicated outsourced chief investment officer business, is the LSU Foundation’s OCIO for endowment funds. Cambridge Associates is one of the largest and most well-respected endowment management firms. This OCIO model is a growing trend among university foundations; Cambridge Associates has a network of 200+ college and university clients. Cambridge Associates works with the LSU Foundation on asset allocation and risk management and provides focused advice on specific asset classes. Our chief financial officer and Board of Directors’ Investment Committee work closely with CA Capital and maintain high-level oversight of the endowment.
For information on endowments and other giving opportunities, contact:
Krista Allen Raney, Senior Vice President of Development
LSU Foundation
3796 Nicholson Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-578-4518 and kallen@lsufoundation.org
For Law Center naming and/or endowments, contact:
Jayla Wilson, Director of Development
LSU Foundation
3796 Nicholson Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-588-8470 and jwilson@lsufoundation.org
Endowment Fund Minimums
Our minimum levels for endowment funds listed below help to ensure that each gift can, in perpetuity, meet the needs of the program the donor chooses to support. Some programs may require a higher level of support.