The Chronicle of Higher Education
PRO & CON: ARE ENDOWMENTS A GOOD IDEA?

Endowments Are Not a Luxury

By DENNIS R. HAMMOND

Many, if not most, trustees and officers of nonprofit institutions cannot imagine operating without endowments. Prudence demands, and common law encourages, institutions to set aside some of each year's unspent earnings, together with gifts given in perpetuity, to help maintain operations in future years when revenues, earnings,...

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