The Campaign for TCU

Click on the questions below to learn how your gifts can have an impact on today’s students as well as future generations of Horned Frogs. If you have a question and can't find an answer on this page, please click this link to contact us.

About Giving to TCU
Whom do I call if I wanted to give a gift to TCU?: Anyone in University Advancement would be happy to assist you. The phone number for the Office of Development is 817-257-7299 or toll free 877-TCU-GIVE (828-4483). The office is located in Room 214 of Sadler Hall. To make a gift to the Annual Fund, please call the Office of Annual Giving at 817-257-7800 or make a gift online.
What are the different ways I can pay my gift to TCU?: You can mail a check, call us to charge a gift to your credit card, or make a gift online.
Where do I send my gift?: You can mail your gift to: Texas Christian University, TCU Box 297440, Fort Worth, TX 76129. TCU also accepts MasterCard, Discover or American Express. Click here to make your gift online. Or contact us at 817-257-7800 to make your gift over the phone.
When do I send my gift?: Whenever it is convenient for you. TCU’s fiscal year is June 1 – May 31. Please remember – TCU needs your support every year. The dollars provided through annual giving are used for the immediate operating budget of the University. These funds must be renewed annually as the University pursues its mission.
Can I specify where I want my gift to go?: Yes, you can support anything you wish. Just specify on your check where you wish your gift to go. You give the University greater flexibility when you designate your gift to the “University’s Greatest Need.”
Will my company match my gift to TCU?: If you or your spouse work for a matching gift company, you could double or triple your gifts! Many companies will match donations made by employees, retirees and spouses. Check to see if your company has a matching gift program by clicking here. If your gift is matched, you receive gift club credit for the amount of the match. For example, a $500 personal gift matched 1:1 by your company would qualify you as a member of the Addison & Randolph Clark Society. Be sure to take advantage of the generosity of your company. It benefits both you and TCU!
Is my gift tax deductible?: Yes, your gifts are tax deductible under the applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code. A receipt for your gift will be sent shortly after the University receives your gift. Note: In cases where there are benefits associated with your gift, the value of those benefits are deducted from your gift amount on your receipt.
Why Giving Matters
Why does TCU need private support?: Since TCU is an independent university, strong support from alumni, friends, parents, corporations and foundations is vital. Public universities are supported with tax dollars, while private universities depend more heavily on tuition and private gift support. Only about three-quarters of the true cost of a TCU education is paid by the student. The rest comes from other sources, including philanthropy and income from the endowment.
How does TCU choose its fund-raising priorities?: Projects are determined through a study and review process, most recently the Vision in Action study, and are generally based on the academic initiatives of TCU and the Facilities Master Plan. As a result of the strategic planning process, the Provost sets the priorities for academic projects to be funded. Once approved by the Provost, projects are sent to the University Advancement Office to assess possibilities for matching projects with potential donors.
Where did TCU’s philanthropic dollars go last year?: Last year was the most successful fund-raising year in the history of TCU. Almost $46 million was contributed by alumni, parents and friends, with the majority going toward campus facilities. Gifts also supported the Annual Fund, academic programs and scholarships.
What is the Annual Fund?: The Annual Fund exists to support the TCU budget with contributions from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, foundations, faculty and staff. The Annual Fund gives the University the flexibility to respond to immediate opportunities and challenges. It also helps keep an education within the financial reach of a wide array of students. Annual giving also funds innovative educational and service programs. For any questions concerning the Annual Fund, please call the Office of Annual Giving at 817-257-7800.
Why does the percentage of alumni giving to TCU matter?: The alumni participation rate for fiscal year 2008 was 22 percent – a significant figure, since rating services such as U.S. News & World Report use this statistic as a measure of alumni satisfaction to rank colleges and universities nationwide. Alumni participation serves as an example of the value our alumni place on their TCU education and the significant role it has played in their lives. A gift not only signifies the role of TCU in the lives of alumni, but also plays an important role in the lives of current students. A gift of any size can make a significant impact. If 80 alumni each made a gift of $25, one student could receive a scholarship that allows her to focus on her studies, rather than working. This is just an example of how alumni participation can make a difference at TCU.
Is the Frog Club part of the Annual Fund?: Yes. Gifts to the Frog Club underwrite scholarships for our student-athletes. These funds support the operating budget of the Horned Frog athletics program and are therefore counted in the Annual Fund.
Bequests and Planned Gifts
What are planned gifts?: Planned gifts are gifts that will benefit TCU in the future. They are created through a process that integrates sound personal, financial and estate-planning concepts with the donor’s plans for lifetime or testamentary giving. A planned gift has tax implications and is often transmitted through a legal document, such as a will, a trust, a deed or a charitable gift annuity agreement. If you are considering a planned gift, we recommend you do so in consultation with your financial planner and/or legal counsel. Our staff is also available to provide assistance at 817-257-7299 or e-mail: giftplanning@tcu.edu.
Is there someone at the University who can help me with planned gifts?: We have a group of people at TCU dedicated to assisting you in exploring the concepts of planned giving and choosing the type of gift that will enable you to accomplish your gift goals at TCU. Please contact the gift planning team at 817-257-7299 or giftplanning@tcu.edu.
What do I need to do to include TCU in my will?: You need to inform your attorney that you want to include TCU in your will. You also need to decide if you want to bequeath a specific dollar amount (or item) to TCU or a percentage of your estate. Your will can also specify how your gift to TCU is to be used. Sample language for both types of bequests is on the TCU Gift Planning website.
May I include TCU in the terms of my life insurance or as a beneficiary of my retirement benefits?: Yes, you may name TCU as the owner or a beneficiary/ contingent beneficiary of a life insurance policy or of retirement benefits. It is also possible to designate the use of these types of gifts. If you are considering doing this, please contact TCU’s Office of Gift Planning at 817-257-7299 or giftplanning@tcu.edu.
Will the University recognize me for making a planned gift?: TCU appreciates the opportunity to thank donors for future gifts and the Britain Society is one way we do that. By letting TCU know of your gift intention during your lifetime, you ensure that the gift will be used as you intended. In addition, your generosity can inspire other donors to make a similar type of gift. Please contact TCU’s gift planning team at 817-257-7299 or via e-mail giftplanning@tcu.edu if you have any questions.
How do I make a stock gift to TCU?: TCU accepts gifts of stocks, bonds and mutual funds and has the ability to receive these gifts in electronic form or certificate form. Please contact the Office of Gift Planning in Advancement at 817-257-7299, via e-mail at giftplanning@tcu.eduor visit the TCU Gift Planning Web site for further details.
Does the University accept gifts of real or personal property?: Yes, these types of gifts are referred to as gifts-in-kind and include items such as real estate and works of art. However, the University’s ability to accept gifts of this nature is limited by the ability to use the gift. In some cases, the University will ask the donor for approval to liquidate the asset so the proceeds can be used to accomplish the donor’s goal for TCU. If you are considering a gift-in-kind, please contact TCU’s Office of Gift Planning at 817-257-7299 or via e-mail at giftplanning@tcu.edu.
Scholarships
What is the minimum amount needed to establish an endowed scholarship?: The minimum gift is $50,000, which can be given over a period of years. However, the scholarship will not be awarded to a student(s) until the fund reaches $50,000.
Can I set the criteria for the kind of student who will receive my scholarship?: Yes, however all criteria and scholarship agreements must first be approved by the University.
Can I set up a scholarship in my name or to honor someone else?: Yes, most scholarships honor or memorialize an individual(s).
Will I be informed about the student who receives my scholarship?: Each year endowed scholarship donors are mailed an annual report with their student recipient information. All scholarship donors and student recipients are invited to attend the annual scholarship dinner in the spring.
Endowed Funds
What is the endowment?: At Texas Christian University the endowment refers to the long-term investment assets of the University. These assets are invested in perpetuity, and only the income from the investments can be spent each year. Funds enter the endowment from two primary sources: gifts from donors and additions to long-term savings that are set aside by the Board of Trustees. Over the years, hundreds of donors have contributed to the endowment, creating endowment funds that support scholarships, professorships and other University programs. Each year, TCU Trustees commit additional funds for long-term investment to secure the future of the institution.
What is an endowed fund?: Endowed funds are created by donors wishing to establish permanent funds to support scholarships, chairs, professorships or other University programs. When assets are donated to an endowed fund, the gifts “buy shares” in TCU’s endowed investment pool, which operates in a manner similar to a mutual fund. Endowed funds are named and used according to the donor’s wishes. By law, only the income and related gains may be spent; the principal must remain intact. Any annual spendable income from an endowed fund is restricted and can only be expended for the fund’s specified purpose.
What investment is required to establish an endowed fund?: The amount required to establish an endowed fund at TCU varies depending on the fund’s purpose. For instance, a named scholarship can be endowed with a gift of $50,000 or more. Likewise, an endowed professorship can be named with a gift of $1 million or more and an endowed chair for $2.5 million or more. Some donors choose to contribute over time, building toward the naming level of their fund with each gift. Regardless of how long it takes to fund a named endowment, the benefits will support the University and its programs far into the future.
What is the value of TCU’s endowment?: TCU is fortunate to have a strong endowment. TCU’s investments totaled more than $1.2 billion as of June 30, 2008.
How does TCU manage its endowment?: In spring 2006, the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees hired the University’s first chief investment officer (CIO), who has taken a leading role in the endowment’s management. The CIO, under the direction of the Investment Committee, has been given the responsibility of overseeing the endowment. The CIO is a seasoned investment professional with experience managing large institutional portfolios. He is charged with ensuring that all policies and investment decisions comply with the current investment policy. The primary goals of the Investment Committee and the CIO are to provide annual budgetary support and to preserve the long-term value of the endowment for future generations. The investment policy determines the strategic asset allocation, the nature of investments, the selection of investment managers and the evaluation of performance. A detailed report of TCU’s investments can be found in the University’s annual report.
How is the endowment invested?: The Investment Committee has developed a strategic asset allocation model upon which the endowment’s portfolio of broadly diversified investments is based. The strategic asset allocation model also sets asset allocation targets for each asset type, including domestic equities, international equities, marketable and non-marketable alternatives, fixed income securities, real estate and minerals.
How much endowment income is spent each year?: Recognizing the need to limit endowment spending to preserve the endowment’s long-term value, the Investment Committee has determined that the annual payout rate should be five percent of the market value of investments. Five percent is considered to be the maximum sustainable payout rate to secure long-term value and is a common payout rate for university endowments of TCU’s size. The largest portion of the spendable endowment income each year is unrestricted and can be used for any program or University need. In Fiscal 2008, at least 72 percent of endowment spending fell into this category. About 15 percent of spendable endowment income is allocated to scholarships, five percent to endowed chairs and professorships and the remaining eight percent to other programs.