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School of Medicine Acceleration Program
The CU School of Medicine (SOM) Acceleration Program is designed to encourage giving to new or existing endowed funds to promote long-term financial stability for the school. By giving to an endowed fund through this initiative, you are unlocking valuable resources for our faculty and providing a steady stream of income for generations. While the SOM funds research and programs today, your endowment will grow for five years – hopefully producing even greater returns in year six.
Pledge Over 5 Years
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total Commitment | Years 6+ | |
| Benefactor | $20k | $20k | $20k | $20k | $20k | $100k endowment | - |
| SOM | $4k | $4k | $4k | $4k | $4k | $20k current use | - |
| Endowment Distributions* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $4k+ |
Outright Gift
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total Commitment | Years 6+ | |
| Benefactor | $100k | - | - | - | - | $100k endowment | - |
| SOM | $4k | $4k | $4k | $4k | $4k | $20k current use | - |
| Endowment Distributions* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $4k+ |
*The endowment distribution may be larger depending on market growth
How the SOM Acceleration Program Works
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The SOM makes annual contributions in the amount of the endowment distribution for five years to the designated research or programmatic area.
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The SOM Acceleration Program makes an immediate impact in the school while the endowed fund grows.
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In year six, the endowed fund begins making annual distributions.
Case Study
A benefactor is interested in creating an endowed fund of $1 million to benefit translational immunotherapy research in the School of Medicine. Because it is an endowment falling within the range of accepted amounts and designations, the full gift is eligible for five years of distribution contributions from the SOM Acceleration Program.
Once a gift agreement is signed stipulating the benefactor commitment will be fulfilled within five years, the School of Medicine will begin to make contributions in the amount of the distribution of the $1 million endowment, available for immediate use by the designated fund manager in the translational immunotherapy program. Based on the CU Foundation endowment distribution rate of 4% per year, the amount contributed from the SOM Acceleration Program in this example would be $40,000 per year.
This $40,000 SOM contribution will be made to the current-use distribution account annually for five years while the benefactor-funded endowment grows. In year six, the benefactor-funded endowment will spin off its first distribution, which, depending on market growth, is likely to be more than the $40,000 contribution made annually over years one through five.
In this scenario, the benefactors make an impact today in an area they are passionate about through five years of annual contributions from the SOM Acceleration Program, their endowed fund is protected and continues to grow for those five years, and the benefactors continue supporting the SOM well into the future through their endowed fund.