The Foundation serves as the preferred channel for private gifts to all areas of Lamar University to support its educational mission. By connecting alumni and friends to the University through stewardship, the Lamar University Foundation focuses on raising funds, distributing funds to Lamar University programs according to donor designations, and managing endowments. Lamar University Foundation is a Texas corporation established under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for educational or charitable purposes.
Although the University is a state-assisted institution, private philanthropy provides the funds necessary to attract and retain the finest students and faculty to Lamar, and provides much of the financial aid that many of our students need in order to reach their educational goals. Through endowments, planned gifts and special-purpose campaigns, the Foundation works closely with the University to generate private support from alumni and friends.
The Foundation supports funding campaigns for specific university priorities and provides central services to raise funds, manage assets, and administer gift accounts for the benefit of the University. To accomplish these activities the Foundation provides resources in planned giving and donor relations, and solicits contributions to benefit all programs within the University.
The Lamar University Foundation does not decide where funds are directed. Gifts to the University are usually donor-directed, meaning that the donors, with input from the University and Foundation, determine how and where their gifts are most needed. In this regard, the Foundation collaborates closely with the University and is deeply committed to assisting the University in accomplishing its strategic objectives.
The Lamar University Foundation supports and enhances Lamar University by encouraging the commitment of personal and financial resources to further the education of Lamar University students. The foundation promotes the stewardship of donors to enhance the quality of services provided by the university to student, faculty, alumni and friends. The Lamar University Foundation manages the investments, serves as trustee of the endowment funds and other private assets contributed for the benefit of Lamar University.
The Lamar University Foundation Board of Trustees is composed of up to 40 members committed to the success of Lamar University and the stewardship of the gifts managed through the Foundation.