College of Business Board of Trustees Development Office
About COBBOT
The College of Business Administration Foundation (COBAF) was organized in 1975 as a non-profit organization to further enhance Tennessee Tech's business-related educational programs by creating solid working relationships with the business community and seeking out business leaders to actively participate in college affairs. In 2004, a university restructure caused the foundation to be renamed to the College of Business Board of Trustees (COBBOT).
COBBOT is a great asset to the College and helps many students. Since 1975, we have provided more than one million dollars in annual and endowed scholarships to business students. We have helped over 1,000 College of Business students to fulfill their dreams of graduation. At the beginning of the 2002-2003 academic year, 47 endowed accounts exist.
In addition to direct financial aid to students, COBBOT has helped support other College programs. We have provided supplemental assistance to the TTU Small Business Development Center, the BusinessMedia Center, and the Rural Business Incubator Program. Recognizing that the business world is ever-changing, we promote faculty development in the College of Business.
Mission
The Mission of the College of Business Board of Trustees is to enrich the education program at Tennessee Technological University through the commitment of financial and service resources for those students pursuing careers in business and business related professions; serve to solidify ties with alumni and the business community; involve business leaders in College affairs.
How we are accomplishing our mission:
- Scholarships: The COBBOT has provided more than one and a half million dollars in annual and endowed scholarships to business students over the years.
Endowed Positions: The COBBOT has set up endowed faculty chairs such as the J.E. Owen and the Mayberry Chairs of Excellence to provide unique learning opportunities for our students.
Alumni Relations: The COBBOT has actively kept strong relationships with all TTU COB friends and graduates to ensure fresh employment opportunities for our graduates and to provide educational mentors for the college and its students.
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Ways to Give
COB Board of Trustees
Box 5023
Cookeville, TN 38505
Phone: 931.372.3649
Fax: 931.372.6530
Why Give?
Private gifts are an important reason that the College of Business is the outstanding college that it is today. Gifts from alumni, friends, faculty and staff, students, and private companies/foundations have enabled the college to outfit 21st Century classrooms, establish chairs of excellence and distinguished professorships, and award donor-funded scholarships. These additional enhancements and opportunities make the College of Business more attractive, since none of this would have been possible without your generous support.
What kinds of gifts can I make?
FUTURE GIFTS
You may commit to future gifts with a pledge or by establishing a planned/deferred gift. Contact the Office of University Development for paper forms. As with current gifts, future gifts may be either restricted or unrestricted.
MEMORIAL/HONORARY GIFTS
You may memorialize or honor a person or persons of your choice simply by making an annotation on your check or attaching a request. Memorial or honorary endowments may be established within the guidelines outlined below under endowments.
MATCHING GIFTS
Matching gifts supported by hundreds of corporations/foundations provide an outstanding opportunity to greatly increase individual gifts.
ENDOWMENTS
An endowment may be established for a minimum gift of $10,000 or a pledge that may be paid over a maximum of five years. Both a signed pledge and a letter of agreement are required.
SCHOLARSHIPS
For many donors, funding scholarships is a popular choice. Donor-funded scholarships fall into two general categories: annually funded and endowment funded.
You may establish annual scholarships on a one time or multi year basis. We request that a pledge and/or a letter of agreement be prepared so that the recipient college/school/department may plan accordingly if the donor intends to fund an annual scholarship over a number of years. Annual scholarships may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars; however, a minimum of $500/year is required to name a scholarship. The donor may attach university-approved criteria to the awarding of the scholarship. Criteria may be related to academic performance, major, financial need, etc.; however, the university prefers less restrictive criteria. Unrestricted scholarship gifts to any of these entities provide maximum flexibility for using the scholarship according to the greatest need such as financial aid, recruiting or retention.
Endowed scholarships may be established for a minimum of $10,000 payable over a period not to exceed five years. A letter of agreement that spells out the guidelines and criteria for administration of the scholarship is always required. An endowment is established in perpetuity such that the principal is never used. Individual endowments are managed and invested as part of a larger pool of endowed funds. Scholarships are funded from investment earnings after the minimum endowment of $10,000 is established. Earnings distribution is based on the total value of the endowment at the end of the calendar year. Unused earnings are returned to the principal so that it continues to grow.
Numerous endowed scholarships have been established by individuals, groups of individuals, corporations, faculty or via a bequest or trust. These scholarships honor or memorialize loved ones, remember a favorite faculty member, department, program, school or college or may be totally unrestricted. Individuals other than the original donors may also contribute to established endowments.
What ways can I give to the College Board of Trustees?
There are different areas in which to place your gifts, including current funds, restricted funds or endowed funds. There are even more ways to give. These ways include making an outright gift, such as writing a check, donating stocks or bonds; and planned deferred gifts, such as bequests, life insurance policies, and charitable trusts.
Current gifts will be used to meet immediate needs within the fiscal year. Restricted gifts will designate your contribution to a specific need or program and will be used until funds are expended. Endowed gifts will make an impact for years to come because the initial gift remains in the endowment while a portion of the interest is used for your designation.
Explore the descriptions and methods of giving or call a foundation staff with any questions. We are available to talk by phone or in person about your gift planning needs.
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