As the cost of providing athletic scholarships for 20 UNH varsity sports continues to rise, endowing a greater number of athletic scholarships has become a top priority. More than 330 student athletes receive some type of athletic scholarship aid. Scholarship athletes are represented on all 20 men’s and women’s programs.

At UNH, the total cost of athletics scholarship has climbed to nearly $8 million a year. Currently, income from endowed scholarship funds provides close to $600,000 annually and makes a significant impact, but we need to endow a greater number of athletic scholarships.

What is an endowed athletic scholarship?

An endowed scholarship is a special gift, creating a perpetual financial source that is used to provide student athletes with a quality educational and athletic experience. For assistance with establishing an endowed scholarship in your name or a benefactor’s name, please contact the Athletics Development office.

What is the difference between an endowed scholarship and annual giving through The Wildcat Fund?

The Wildcat Fund provides current-use, budgeting relieving dollars to the Athletics Department. Income from endowed athletics scholarships provides funding support in perpetuity. Establishing an endowed scholarship fund helps secure the future of UNH student athletes and demonstrates a donor's commitment to ensuring that the University continues to be a leader in academics and athletics.

What is the minimum amount needed to establish an endowed athletic scholarship?

The minimum gift needed to establish a named, endowed fund is $50,000. This amount can be paid all at once or in payments (typically three to five years). Once the fund reaches the $50,000 amount, it will begin to pay out, making it possible to offer student athletes scholarships in the fund’s name. Until $50,000 is reached, the interest gained is reinvested in the fund. For more details, contact the Athletics Development office.

Ways to Fund an Endowed Scholarship

There are numerous ways to fund an endowment, including outright gifts of cash, bequests, securities, life insurance, retirement assets, or properties. Providing funding through inclusion in a will or another estate planning vehicle such as charitable gift annuity, pooled income fund, charitable remainder trust, personal property, and real estate is also possible to increase the level of an established scholarship.

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