charitable funds that offer a source of stability for schools, colleges, and universities.
critical to the financial health of institutions.
essential to support institutions as they work to offer high-quality, affordable, accessible education.
Not a single fund, but a compilation of funds given by many donors over time, for specific purposes that cannot always be changed after the gift is made.
Educational institutions receive returns on their endowment investments each year. Those returns are generally spent at an approximate rate of 4.5% each fiscal year to meet current teaching, learning, and operational needs; any remaining investment returns are generally reinvested into the existing endowment.
Learn here about what endowments are and are not, and U.S. policy issues impacting endowments.
Concerned about the rising cost of college, U.S. lawmakers have proposed legislation on endowment spending and investment.
Background
In September 2019, Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and Bradley Byrne (R-AL) reintroduced the Don't Tax Higher Education Act (H.R. 4438), which would repeal the endowment excise tax.
In March 2018, Reps. John Delaney (D-MD) and Bradley Byrne (R-AL) introduced the Don't Tax Higher Education Act (H.R. 5520), which would repeal the 1.4 percent endowment excise tax. However, the bill was not further considered in the House.
In 2018, Rep. Reed introduced the REDUCE Act, which would have required certain colleges and universities to direct 25% of their endowment investment gains to support working class families or face tax penalties.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017 and included an excise tax on certain endowments of private colleges and universities.
In 2014, former House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) proposed a 1 percent excise tax on private institution endowments with a value exceeding $100,000 per student.
Impact
Attempts to tax endowments are a tax on generosity.
These endowment payout requirements impede institutions' ability to effectively manage endowment funds.
Such misguided tax policies will result in fewer funds for scholarships, research, and academic programs.
Instead of bringing down college costs, this tax does the opposite. College and university endowment funds are an important source of revenue which support student financial aid, teaching, research, and public service missions. The new law redirected charitable funds away from these purposes and discourages donor generosity.
As such, CASE supports a repeal of the 1.4 percent endowment tax and opposes any tax on endowed funds.
Resources for Lawmakers & Government Relations Professionals
Endowments are permanent funds from charitable gifts that offer colleges and universities the enduring stability to empower generations of students and shape our world's future.
Endowments are permanent funds from charitable gifts that offer schools the enduring stability to empower generations of students and shape our world's future.
