Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation is continually working to secure private funding for endowed chairs, fellowships, and professorships.

Derived from a Louisiana constitutional amendment in 1984, the Louisiana Education Quality Support Fund and the Louisiana Educational Quality Trust Fund provide state matching funds for endowed chairs, fellowships, and professorships. Established by the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Eminent Scholars Program establishes a permanent endowment beginning with $1 million, and the Endowed Professorship program establishes a permanent endowment beginning with $100,000. These endowments are created by private contributions to the Foundation that equal 60% of the endowment matched by 40% from the Regents.

The importance of this program is twofold. First, it increases the total impact of funding necessary to conduct the research and educational programs of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Second, donors are given the opportunity and the benefit of multiplying their donations by taking advantage of matching rules and regulations. Consequently, they are able to create a much larger endowment to benefit Pennington Biomedical. These endowments exist in perpetuity, as only a portion of the earnings are spent annually for research expenses and educational programs.

For more information about the endowed chairs, fellowships, and professorships program, contact our office at (225) 763-2511.