West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Development

Ways to Give

In Honor and Memory

What is a tribute gift?

A tribute gift memorializes or honors a family member or friend while also supporting West Virginia University. Gifts In Memory Of (IMO) or In Honor Of (IHO) alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students celebrate the relationship individuals have with the University and their community as they impact the educational experience students and faculty share on WVU's campus each day.

The WVU Foundation’s general policy is to place IMO/IHO gifts in our Augusta Scholarship Fund endowment, unless otherwise requested by the donor.

Gifts may be designated to create an endowed scholarship if the total reaches $25,000 or a Library Acquisitions Endowed Fund if it reaches $10,000.

Making an In Memory Of/In Honor Of gift

When making an In Memory Of/In Honor Of gift, simply address the envelope:
WVU Health Sciences Development Office
PO Box 9008
Morgantown, WV 26506–9008

Checks should be made payable to the WVU Foundation, Inc.

For an In Memory Of gift, include a note with:
*Name of the deceased and date of death (copy of obituary, if possible, is helpful)
*Name of surviving widow, widower, or family member to whom notice of this gift is to be sent
*When including gift language in an obituary, use a phrase similar to the following example. “Gifts may be made In Memory Of (Deceased) to the WVU Foundation, Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26506.

For an In Honor Of gift, include a note with:
*Name and address of the person(s) to be honored

Please note: A letter is sent to the honoree with the name and address of the donor(s), but not the amount of the gift.

For both In Memory Of and In Honor Of gifts, include on the note:

*Name, address and amount of each contribution included in the envelope to assure proper recognition
*Name of the college, school, unit or program to which the funds are to be designated, if you choose to do so
*Telephone number of the principal donor, in case there are any questions

Endowed scholarships

Endowing student scholarships assures their availability for students across generations. Many donors prefer to create endowed scholarships that will exist in perpetuity.

These scholarships may be created with a one–time direct gift of at least $25,000 (for Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing, with Medicine reuiring $50,000) or through pledge payments of up to five years. Additional gifts may be added to an established endowment at any time.

Donors of endowed funds benefiting students are honored in a visible and permanent way. The WVU Foundation engraves the name of each endowed scholarship into a brick. These bricks serve as the pathway of the Ernest L. Hogan Scholars Walk located directly in front of the University’s Downtown Library Complex. Donor’s names are listed on the Foundation’s Wall of Honor.

To discuss your scholarship gift and designate details of the project, look under our scholarship link for the school of unit you want to support. Our development staff is happy to work with you on your legacy project.

West Virginia University