The Michigan Tech Fund is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation established in 1965 under the laws of the State of Michigan. Existing solely for the benefit of Michigan Technological University and its students, the Tech Fund receives, invests, and disburses gifts to support the University's mission and vision.
The business and affairs of the Michigan Tech Fund are managed by a ten-person Board of Directors.
Michigan Tech Fund Goal
The primary goal of the endowment is to provide consistent financial support to Michigan Tech’s students and faculty in perpetuity. The Michigan Tech Fund Board of Directors, as recommended by its Investment Committee, sets management, investment, and spending policies. Each policy is described in more detail below. These policies are periodically reviewed and revised to best position the endowment to meet its primary goal.
Michigan Tech Fund Management Policy
It is necessary to set minimum amounts to endow new and existing funds in order to achieve beneficial levels of support for Michigan Tech’s students and faculty. The minimum amount to endow a new scholarship, fellowship, or department fund is $25,000. The minimum amount to endow a faculty fellow is $500,000, a professorship is $1,000,000; a chaired professor is $2,000,000; a research institute, center, director is $3,500,000; and a dean is $5,000,000. These amounts may be contributed in full, pledged over a maximum period of five years, promised through an irrevocable planned gift, or through a combination of outright and irrevocable estate gifts.
Michigan Tech Fund Investment Policy
The Board of Directors also determines the asset allocation for the endowment, partnering with an investment advisor to work within the asset-allocation targets to select and monitor investment managers. The Investment Committee oversees the Fund’s investment advisor, meeting quarterly to review the endowment’s investment performance. In managing the endowment, the Michigan Tech Fund has two primary goals. The first goal provides resources for students today, while the second goal ensures Michigan Tech can provide opportunities and experiences for future generations. Endowment investments have a target mix of 80% return seeking assets and 20% risk mitigating assets.
Michigan Tech Fund Spending Policy
The Michigan Tech Fund Board of Directors has adopted the Historical Endowment Purchasing Power Preservation Value (HEPPPV) spending policy to maximize disbursement and, at the same time, sustain growth in the endowment. It is the policy to distribute to every endowed fund an amount calculated annually by taking into consideration inflation, historical spending and donations, and adjusts the base spending rate of 4% up or down to preserve the purchasing power of the endowment.
Documents
- Investment Policy Statement
- Summary of Endowment Management, Investment, and Spending Policies
- Michigan Tech Fund Audited Financial Statements
Additional Information
Note: In accordance with IRS regulations (Rev. Rul. 56-329), we are unable to issue receipts for gifts that support fraternity and sorority houses.
Contact Lorraine Thoune, Associate Director for Gift and Estate Administration at llthoune@mtu.edu or 906-487-3305.