Creating an Endowment
Endowments at the Washington College of Law are an investment in the future of our school and our students. Endowments allow a donor to create a permanent legacy at AUWCL, providing funding for scholarships, faculty, and programs. This funding helps AUWCL create new opportunities that attract the best students and faculty or provide an important foundation for existing programs.
Established at the $50,000 gift level, endowments may be created through a one time gift, multiple gifts over time, or by a bequest. Once an endowment is established, the income earned on the endowed fund is used to award scholarships, faculty chairs, and academic awards and prizes. Additionally, after an endowment is officially established, anyone may continue to add to its principal at any time, allowing the endowment to create a larger amount of interest.
We are grateful for the foresight and generosity of the donors who established endowed funds at the Washington College of Law.
Opportunities to Make a Difference
Various types of endowments are listed below, but endowments can cover other purposes that may fall outside of these general categories.
Benefits of establishing an endowment:
- The endowment will always be a part of Washington College of Law and benefit countless numbers of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
- The donor(s) determines the criteria within appropriate guidelines.
- The donor(s) and anyone else may make additional contributions to increase the endowment. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
- The donor(s) will receive an annual endowment update.
Scholarships, Awards & Fellowships
Scholarships, awards, and fellowships for AUWCL’s students are critical to maintaining AUWCL's academic excellence because they remove financial barriers and allow AUWCL to attract and retain the most qualified and diverse student body.
When establishing an endowed scholarship, award or fellowship, the donor determines the parameters under which the scholarship is established and named. Donors may choose to leave their scholarships "unrestricted" in order to assure that all available funds can be matched to the broadest pool of eligible students. With an endowed scholarship, award or fellowship, the donor(s) determines the selection criteria within appropriate affirmative action and tax guidelines. The donor(s) will be notified of the recipient(s) each year, receive a letter of thanks from the recipient(s), and be invited to attend the annual Scholarships and Awards Dinner at which the donor(s) may meet the recipient(s).
View our Scholarships, Awards, and Fellowships
Program Endowments
Program endowments at AUWCL are critical to maintaining AUWCL's academic excellence.
- Women and the Law Program
- Stephen S. Weinstein Trial Advocacy Program
- The Thompson Endowment – Center for Human Rights
- Janet R. Spragens Federal Tax Law Clinic
- Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic
Faculty Endowments
Nothing is more important to the quality of an AUWCL education than its faculty of distinguished scholars and educators, many of whom have earned national and international attention.
Naming Opportunities at AUWCL’s Tenley Campus
In Spring 2016, the Washington College of Law moved to the new Tenley Campus located on Nebraska Avenue. The new campus offers a variety of naming opportunities to honor family, colleagues, friends, and members of the AUWCL Law community who made a difference in your life.
For more information on naming opportunities, please contact Laura Herr, Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations at (202) 274-4054 or lherr@wcl.american.edu
Ways to Give
Donors can establish a new endowment that creates a permanent legacy honoring a person, a program or an area of interest, or you can make a gift to support an existing endowment
For more information about establishing an endowed fund or to make a gift in support of an existing fund, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 202-274-4050 or alumni@wcl.american.edu.
If you make a gift online, by mail or phone, please designate how your gift should be used or give as unrestricted, which allows the dean to allocate it to the area of greatest need.