| |||
What is the Georgia Southwestern Foundation?  The GSW Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that serves Georgia Southwestern State University. Incorporated in the state of Georgia in 1979, the Foundation has three primary missions:
I thought GSW was state supported. Why does it need gift funds? The state takes great pride in Georgia Southwestern State University, and provides as much funding as it can. The annual money allocated to GSW from the University System of Georgia is based on the enrollment of two years prior to their funding. Competing demands for state dollars, however, mean that less than 44 percent of GSW's operating budget is provided by the state appropriation; Georgia Southwestern is state assisted rather than state supported. Since tuition and fees provide only another 18 percent of the budget, gifts are becoming increasingly important to Georgia Southwestern. What does the Foundation do with the gift I make for GSW? Exactly what you tell it to do. Typically, about 98 percent of gifts are designated by donors for a particular scholarship, school, department, or program. The Foundation deposits those gifts directly into one of more than 200 accounts established at the Foundation. Your gift is restricted when you write on your check, pledge card, or other correspondence how you would like it to be used. All checks should be made payable to the GSW Foundation with designation in the bottom left hand corner as to where the gift should be applied. This designation is confirmed on your receipt. Expenditures of these gift funds are made by department chairs and supervisors, who are GSW administrators, faculty, and staff. Expenditures must be for purposes which meet the guidelines established for that account. The Foundation issues checks amounting to over $1.3 million each year. Why is the Foundation separate from GSW? All gifts benefit Georgia Southwestern State University, but the Foundation is specifically organized to provide the management, reporting, and stewardship services that donors require. The Foundation has the fiduciary management responsibilities of the funds which results in greater efficiency for the Foundation and the University. Most public colleges and universities have separate foundations – and for good reasons.
Who governs the Foundation? The 36 members of the Board of Trustees govern the Foundation, and the Foundation staff reports to them. Elected by their peers, many trustees are leaders in business, the professions, and civic affairs. All serve without compensation and contribute their considerable expertise. They meet two times a year as a body and some attend monthly committee meetings between full sessions. In addition, they contribute generously of their own resources. The trustees provide external oversight of the Foundation's operations. The trustees recognize a responsibility to reflect in their membership the diversity of GSW alumni and friends. How does the Foundation fulfill its responsibility to be accountable? The Foundation recognizes its responsibilities to maintain both the public and the private trust. The Foundation openly discloses information about its policies, activities, financial statements, and other information to further the understanding of its mission and operations. In turn, the foundation honors its obligation to maintain donor confidentiality and to pursue accepted business practices. In addition to the external oversight provided by our Board, the foundation meets federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
Who decides how the Foundation expends unrestricted funds? The President of Georgia Southwestern State University determines which projects to present to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for funding approval, after consulting with faculty leaders, the university administrators, deans, department heads and other campus groups. Can a GSW faculty member go directly to the Foundation for funding or other assistance? Faculty and/or staff should first discuss funding needs with his/her department chair, program director, dean, or vice president as funding may be available through the department. If funding is not available, the GSW development office may be approached. These professionals work closely with the Foundation and can assist in finding resources. How are Foundation operations funded? The annual operating budget is derived from donations to the Foundation's operating fund and quasi-endowments. Earnings from these endowments can be used at the discretion of the Board, but the corpus or original principal is not spent. What services does the Foundation provide? The Foundation provides funds for the University's priority needs as well as services to manage assets and administer gift accounts for Georgia Southwestern.
What are the investment policies of the Foundation?
Organization Chart 
|