A gift to an IBS endowment is more than a donation — it is a declaration of faith in the future of Buddhist education in America.
Endowments are permanent funds, invested so that only the earnings are used, year after year, in perpetuity. The principal is preserved; your gift never runs out. Whatever you choose to support — faculty, students, or the general mission of IBS — your endowment ensures that support continues long after your lifetime.
Supporting Our Faculty
IBS endowments have long been the primary means of supporting our faculty through professorial chairs. These endowed positions attract and retain outstanding scholars and teachers, enabling the kind of rigorous, compassionate instruction that defines an IBS education. Through multiple campaigns, the American Jōdo Shinshū community has established numerous endowment funds, held by the BCA Endowment Foundation (BCAEF), for the direct benefit of IBS programs and faculty.
Donation to existing professional chair funds held by BCAEF should be sent directly to the Endowment Foundation or may be made online (click “IBS chairs” in the drop-down menu).
Endowed professorial chair funds in need of support include:
- The Eshinni and Kakushinni Professor of Women and Buddhist Studies
- Noboru and Yaeko Hanyu Professor of Buddhist Chaplaincy
- H.E. Kosho Ohtani Professor of Shin Buddhist Studies
- Yoshitaka Tamai Professor of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Studies
Supporting Our Students
Endowed scholarships reduce the financial burden on students pursuing graduate-level Buddhist education — many of whom go on to serve as Buddhist ministers and chaplains, careers not known for high salaries. A scholarship endowment helps ensure that a calling to serve the Dharma is never turned away for lack of funds.
Creating Your Own Endowment
IBS welcomes new endowment gifts. Endowments may be established with a minimum gift of $50,000 and are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that clearly states your intentions. You may create an endowment in your own name, in honor of a loved one, or in memory of someone who shaped your life in the Dharma.
Endowment gifts may be made during your lifetime or through your estate. We encourage you to consult with a financial advisor about the most advantageous way to structure your gift.
To learn more, please contact us directly. We would be honored to talk with you about how your endowment can shape the future of IBS.