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Frequently Asked Questions

Alumni & Friends

LSBE students standing on the second floor by the stairs.

What is the address of the Development Office?

We are located in the Labovitz School of Business and Economics Development & Faculty Offices Suite. Please address mail to:

LSBE Development Office
LSBE 213
1318 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812

How do I update my contact information?

You will need to fill out and submit the Update Your Contact Info form.

How do I make a memorial gift or in honor of someone for a special occasion?

Print out the Honor/Memorial gifts form and record your desires. Then mail the form along with your gift to the address indicated on the form.

You can also make a memorial gift on-line. Just simply follow the prompt questions after selecting "Yes" in the "Is this gift in honor or memory of someone?" on the online giving.

How do I specify where I want my gift to go?

A donor may specify the gift designation by writing a letter stating the intent, indicating their intent on the gift or pledge form, indicating the program in the Special Instructions in the online giving, or by simply writing where the gift should go in the memo portion of the check.

How can I get my gift matched by my company?

If your company offers a matching gift program, your gift to the University of Minnesota Duluth may be doubled or even tripled. Obtain a gift matching form from your human resource or personnel department, complete it, and return the form to us. We will take care of the rest.

Opportunities for matching gifts are sometimes available from a spouse’s employer. Look in the University of Minnesota Foundation's catalog to see if your employer already participates.

The University of Minnesota Duluth is a state-supported university. Why does it need my help?

Because state funding currently provides only the means for a basic education, private funding supplements state and federal dollars and supports many special programs and projects not possible through conventional funding sources.

Examples of these are professorships, fellowships and scholarships in all academic disciplines, research efforts, and building projects. Those academic opportunities and enhancements that make UMD a truly great university are only available through private support.

What is the relationship between UMD and the University of Minnesota Foundation?

The University of Minnesota Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that helps build greatness at the University of Minnesota by raising and managing gifts from alumni and friends for all U of M campuses; Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities. All private gifts to benefit UMD are recorded with the University of Minnesota Foundation. 

What is an endowment and how does it work?

An endowment is a long-term investment in the University of Minnesota Duluth that provides benefits to students, faculty or programs year after year, generation after generation.

For endowed funds, the donor stipulates that the principal must be invested and that all or a portion of the income be expended to carry out the donor's purpose. To guard against the eroding consequences of inflation, the remaining portion of investment return is then added to the principal. The goal is to ensure that the principal maintains its purchasing power over time to support future generations.

How is the endowment managed and invested, and what are typical returns?

The UMF endowment is invested by the University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors (UMFIA), a non-profit subsidiary established in 1998 to focus on long-term investment goals. UMFIA has a portfolio of wide-ranging, highly diverse asset classes across geography, markets, types of securities, and styles of investment management, designed to balance higher-returning investments with those expected to yield a more stable return. For more information on how endowments are managed, please contact University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors at