Elizabeth City State University

The ECSU Foundation

Building the Legacy, By Elevating the Endowment

The ECSU Foundation mission is to serve as the steward of private contributions to Elizabeth City State University in order to provide educational assistance for students, to support faculty, and to secure the operational needs of the university. The Foundation receives, invests, and administers funds received, as a result of charitable contributions from the private sector, on behalf of the students and programs at ECSU and, as a result, for the greater good of the community.

A Blended Component Unit of ECSU | Although legally separate, Elizabeth City State University Foundation, Inc. and Subsidiary, is a component unit of the University and is reported as if it were a part of the University. The Foundation is governed by a 25-member board consisting of 13 ex officio directors and 11 elected directors. The Foundation's purpose is to aid, support and promote teaching, research and service in the various educational, scientific, scholarly, professional, artistic and creative endeavors of the University. Because the elected directors of the Foundation are appointed by the members of the Elizabeth City State University Board of trustees and the Foundation's sole purpose in to benefit Elizabeth City State University, its financial statements are blended with those of the University.

ECSU Endowment | The ECSU Foundation is committed to ensuring the future of the university by building ECSU's endowment to provide for its needs in perpetuity. The investment and annual reinvestment, allowed at a higher rate of return than other reserve funds, of the ECSU Foundation endowment allows the university to increase its impact on the region as well as the capacity to meet the needs of the students it serves. The Foundation secures and manages funds, on behalf of ECSU, to establish scholarships, support distinguished professorships and deliver both academic and community outreach programming. In all its efforts, the ECSU Foundation is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of Elizabeth City State University.

Endowment Minimum Increase | On December 1, 2023 the Elizabeth City State University Foundation Board voted to approve the request from University senior leadership to rase the endowment minimum level from $5,000 to $25,000, effective July 1, 2024. This policy revision will align ECSU with other instutions' endowment policies in the UNC System and offer greater investment returns in scholarship support. 

  • to steward the resources entrusted to the organization's care, 
  • to support and assist others in conjunction with ECSU, 
  • to provide opportunities to individuals who might not otherwise be able to attend college,
  • to invest wisely and conservatively to ensure growth of the endowment, 
  • to partner with the university to meet its mission in the community, 
  • to communicate openly, frequently and honestly with our constituents, 
  • to honor the privacy of our donors and friends, 
  • to value diversity in all its forms and respect the dignity of the individual, 
  • and to ensure that the organization meet both the letter and the support of the laws that govern our work

Effective July 1, 2013 The Elizabeth City State University Foundation (The Foundation) approved to establish a nominal fee to be charged on collections and funds all in accordance with applicable law known as administrative and gift fees. These fees will be used to cover the costs of fundraising and foundation administrative activities in support of the Foundation's mission.  

The ECSU Foundation Board of Directors establishes two fees illustrated below:

Gift Fees: Effective July 1, 2014 a 2% gift fee shall be assessed to each non-endowed gift to the ECSU Foundation. The full gift less any applicable quid pro quo restrictions remains tax-deductible.

  • Currently, seven UNC institutions are using gift fee (GF) or endowment fees (EF): East Carolina- 3% GF & 1% EF; NC State- 5% GF & 1.00-1.05% EF; UNC Asheville- 1% GF; UNC-CH-10% from Annual Fund & .08% EF; NC Central-2% EF; Appalachian State-1.25% EF and NC A&T- 6% GF.
  • Four others are considering establishing gift or endowment fees.
  • According to a survey developed by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in 2010, 83% of institutions have established or are planning to assess an endowment management fee, which is up from 68% who reported using a fee in 2006. 
  • Administrative Fees: Effective July 1, 2013 a 4% administrative fee will be assessed on all eligible Foundation funds based on the language in the fund agreement documents. After July 1, 2014, this administrative fee shall be assessed only on applicable endowed funds.

The Foundation strives to utilize an equitable fee structure to fund the cost of operations. Administrative fees are used to fund the tasks associated with pursuing, managing and investing the various types of funds held by the Foundation. These fees are essential support necessary to The Foundation's overall operation. The fee structure and rates are reviewed annually by The Elizabeth City State University Foundation Investment Committee.

  • Disclosure Statement: Each gift receipt generated by The Elizabeth City State University Foundation will have the following disclosure statement: "It is the policy of The Elizabeth City State University Foundation that a modest portion of gifts and/or the income from gifts may be used to defray the costs of raising and administering funds."
  • Effective Date: The administrative fee is effective as of July 1, 2013 and the gift fee is effective July 1, 2014. All policies are subject to periodic review and amendment by The Elizabeth City State University Foundation Board of Directors.

 

ECSU Foundation | BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Members Term Ends
Ms. Jennifer Bailey
2026 (1st Term) Chancellor Appointee
Mr. James Bell 2025 (1st Term) Chancellor Appointee
Retired Col. Randy B. Bell* | Audit Chair 2026 (3rd Term) Foundation Board
Dr. Sadie Johnson Carter | Gala Co-Chair  2025 (2nd Term) Foundation Board
Mr. James Cherry, II*** NAA Bylaw Appointment
Ms. Bernadine A. Cobb* | Vice Chairman, ECSU Foundation Board and Investment Chair
2026 (2nd Term) Chancellor Appointee
Dr. Catherine Edmonds* | Chancellor, Elizabeth City State University Bylaw Appointment
Mrs. Christine Evans**
BOT Bylaw Appointment
Mrs. Diana M. Gardner | Gala Co-Chair
2026 (3rd Term) Foundation Board
Ms. Lori Gibbs 2026 (1st Term) Chancellor Appointee
Mr. Jermaine McKinley* | Treasurer 2026 (2nd Term) Chancellor Appointee
Mr. Timothy Minor* | Scholarship Chair 2025 (1st Term) Chancellor Appointee
Mrs. Annalisa Carawan Morgan* | Secretary and Cultural & Planning Chair
2025 (1st Term) Foundation Board
Mrs. Kimrey Rhinehardt* | Chairman, ECSU Foundation Board and Bylaws Chair 2025 (2nd Term) Chancellor Appointee
Nylissa Snagg** | Student Government Association, Vice President of Internal Affairs
Bylaw Appointment
Mr. Robert Thibeault** | Vice Chancellor of Business & Finance Bylaw Appointment
Dr. Kevin J. Wade** | Executive Director; Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs; Interim Vice Chancellor of University Advancement
Bylaw Appointment
Mr. Raymond Weaver 2026 (1st Term) Foundation Board
Mr. Kenneth Weeden 2027 (1st Term) Foundation Board
Ms. Lisa Westbrook 2026 (1st Term) Foundation Board

 

Executive Committee*
Ex-Officio Members – Non-Voting**
Ex-Officio Member – Voting***
Foundation Appointees – No less than 15 and no more than 25
Chancellor Appointees – 8
 
19 Voting Members

4 Non-Voting Members

Article 5, Section 1f. Quorum. At meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the voting Directors shall constitute a quorum, and this number or more shall be necessary for the proper transaction of business of the Foundation.

Article 4, Section 4. Terms. Three (3) years shall constitute one (1) term. However, the Board may limit the first term of any Director to one (1) or two (2) years at its discretion Each Director is elected to serve three (3) terms. No Director shall serve more than three (3) consecutive terms. However, a Director at the end of three (3) consecutive terms will be eligible for reappointment or re-election after not serving for one (1) year. A term shall expire at 12:00 midnight on the last day of the fiscal year (July 1st – June 30th).

For More Information

Division of University Advancement
Campus Box 978

252-335-3225
ecsufoundation@ecsu.edu