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Unrestricted Support: FAQs

What is unrestricted support?

Unlike endowments—which are established on a permanent basis and provide an annual income for various programs—gifts that come into the University through the Notre Dame Annual Fund, the Sorin Society, and the President's Circle are deposited in a general fund, enabling the officers of the University to address urgent priorities, under–funded programs, and capital and operating expenses.

Why is unrestricted support so important?

Notre Dame's annual budget well exceeds $700 million. Tuition and endowment earnings pay for only a portion of the budget. The University relies on unrestricted gifts to make up the difference.

For example, through the generosity of the Notre Dame family, numerous endowments have been created to support undergraduate financial aid, which continues to top the University's list of funding priorities. Though we are now better able to provide scholarship support than ever before, there is still a need. Thus a significant portion of unrestricted gifts to the University are used to provide scholarships for undergraduates.

Further, because such funds are expendable, they have a large and more immediate impact. Thus a $100 unrestricted gift has the same impact on the annual budget as a $2,000 endowment. Similarly, a $1,000 annual gift has the same impact as a $25,000 endowment fund.

What about matching gifts?

Matching gifts are a corporate–sponsored benefit wherein a company matches its employees' personal contributions. Depending upon your employer's policy, matching gifts can typically be arranged in one of the following ways:

• By obtaining a matching gift form from your company and sending it to Notre Dame along with your gift.
• By providing the company with a receipt or acknowledgement from Notre Dame that proves a gift was made.
• By utilizing the matching gift services provided on your company's website.

Find out if your employer sponsors a matching gift program.

Additional questions? Please contact us at spirit@nd.edu.