The official legal bequest language for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute can be found on our Bequest Language link.
HOW RENSSELAER WILL USE YOUR UNDESIGNATED ESTATE GIFT
Our policy for the use of undesignated testamentary gifts is based on the size of your gift:
| Less than $100,000: |
Rensselaer Annual Fund |
| |
|
| $100,000 or more: |
Designated by the president and trustees. Most of these dollars go to
the endowment or are used for facilities. |
GIFT DESIGNATIONS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
Current Operations: These gifts are used in their entirety to pay for current expenses. Possible designations include one of Rensselaer's five Schools, an Academic Department, a research program, a facility, an athletic team or the Rensselaer Annual Fund. Please check with us on other designations to determine if we will be able to use your gift in the manner your desire.
General Endowment Funds and Donor Named Endowment Funds: The endowment supports ongoing operations of the Institute. Rensselaer spends approximately 5% of the value of the endowment each year and reinvests any excess income and appreciation for future use. Named endowment funds provide permanent name recognition for the donor or other designated person(s). Possible designations and gift minimums are as follows:
| General Endowment Funds |
Gift Minimum |
| Athletics Department |
$10,000 |
| Rensselaer Unrestricted |
None |
| Scholarship |
| Architecture |
$10,000 |
| Engineering |
$10,000 |
| Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences |
$10,000 |
| Lally School |
$10,000 |
| Science |
$10,000 |
| Unrestricted |
None |
| Donor Named Endowment Funds |
Gift Minimum |
| Unrestricted scholarship |
$200,000 |
| Restricted scholarship |
$250,000 |
| Graduate fellowship |
$400,000 |
| Career Development Chair |
$1,500,000 |
| Senior Chair |
$3,000,000 |
