Nature & Nurture | Campaign News

Help 'Fill A Bucket' and Imprint Your 'Signature' on the Nicholas School

Everyone hopes to leave his or her mark on the world. An innovative matching opportunity can assist donors who wish to imprint their "signature" on the Nicholas School while helping to "fill the endowment bucket."

The Signature Venture Endowment is the brainchild of anonymous donors who wanted to assist other friends of the school in establishing endowments that would support the donor's special interests. Designed to provide maximum flexibility for both the donor and the school, these unique endowments may be designated for student support, faculty support or as venture capital for new programs, courses, and initiatives. For each $750,000 contributed by a signature donor, anonymous donors will contribute $250,000, creating a $1 million naming opportunity.

"In today's competitive admissions environment, increasing our financial aid pool is vital," said Cynthia A. Peters, director of enrollment services. "Establishing a Signature Venture Scholarship Endowment would fund multiple full-tuition scholarships, and scholars would forever carry the name of the donor or honoree of the fund. For example, with a gift of $750,000 the Smith family could establish the 'Smith Society of Fellows' for support of multiple students aided by a $250,000 contribution from our matching donors."

"The dean and the development staff will work closely with each donor to create an endowment that reflects his or her personal interests while meeting the greatest needs of the school," said Anita Brown, director of advancement. "If a donor wishes, the fund could provide both scholarship and programmatic support. A faculty fund could provide support for research and teaching for junior or senior faculty, to establish new research programs, or to underwrite marine operations at the Duke Marine Lab."

Environmental emergencies, such as those created by Hurricane Floyd or the events of Sept. 11, could also be addressed with a Signature Venture Endowment. The fund could provide critical dollars to assist in the study of toxins released in the atmosphere after an explosion or the effects of flooding on estuaries, native animal, marine and plant life, or the coastline.

If you would like additional information about Signature Venture Endowments or other funding opportunities, please contact Anita Brown, director of advancement, at 919-613-8019 or anita.brown@duke.edu.

Endowed Professorships Created or Enhanced During the Campaign for Duke

• Doris Duke Professorship in Conservation Ecology
• Dan and Bunny Gabel Associate Professorship in Environmental Ethics
• The Korstian Professorship in Forest Resource Management
• Nicholas Professorship in Earth Systems Science
• Nicholas Professorship in Environmental Economics and Policy
• Nicholas Professorship in Environmental Quality
• Nicholas Professorship in Natural Resource Ecology
• Truman and Nellie Semans /Alex Brown & Sons Associate Professorship
• Lee Hill Snowdon Professorship
• Rachel Carson Professorship in Marine Conservation Biology
• Rachel Carson Professorship in Marine Affairs and Policy

Endowed Fellowships and Scholarships Created or Enhanced During the Campaign for Duke

• Lawrence E. Blanchard Endowment
• Bookhout Scholarship Fund
• Whitney Lawson Chamberlin Memorial Endowment
• Norman L. Christensen Jr. Fellowship Endowment
• William Cleveland Fellowship Endowment
• Timothy J. and Anne G. Creem Scholarship Endowment
• Cummings Family Fellowship
• LeRoy George Scholarship
• Laura J. Grierson Memorial Scholarship
• Charlotte and Robert Hay Endowment
• Richard Heintzelman Family Fellowship Endowment
• Tim and Karen Hixon Wildlife Conservation Endowment
• Lawrence I'Anson Jr. Scholarship Fund
• Thomas W. Keesee Jr. Fellowship Endowment
• Kuzimer-Lee-Nikitine Endowment
• Thomas Vaclav Laska Memorial
• Melanie Lynn Memorial Scholarship Endowment
• Nicholas Fellowships in Environmental Sciences and Policy
• Nicholas School of the Environment Alumni Fellowships Endowment
• Nicholas School of the Environment Professional Student Fellowship Endowment
• Orvis Fellowship Endowment
• Orrin Pilkey Fellowship Endowment
• Elizabeth Reid Endowment
• Nancy and Simon B. Rich Fellowship
• Gary H. Salenger Fellowship Endowment
• Bartow Shaw Family Fellowship Endowment
• Thomas and Anne Shepherd Endowment
• Edward and Joyce Sitz Endowment
• Harvey W. Smith Graduate Fellowship Endowment
• Deborah Susan Steer Scholarship Fund
• Syngenta Crop Protection Inc. Fellowship
• Yasuomi Tanaka Memorial Fellowship
• Wade Family Endowment
• John and Sue Wall Fellowship Endowmen
• Dr. Larry R. Widell Memorial Fellowship Endowment