Frequently Asked Questions

The CSULB 49er Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of alumni, friends, and university leaders who share a strong interest in and commitment to the future of California State University, Long Beach. Board members serve as ambassadors in the community; provide skillful, efficient management of the Foundation and its resources; and ensure profitable investment of endowed and philanthropic funds.

All gifts to the university are important and appreciated.  Whether you give to Electrical Engineering or Elementary Education, Instrumental Music or International Business, Kinesiology or Comparative Literature, your investment goes a long way at CSULB.  And there are a variety of convenient ways to contribute: by phone or mail, via the Internet, or through gift-matching or payroll-deduction programs.  Stocks, securities, and planned gifts also are gratefully accepted (and, we should note, may offer significant tax benefits to the donor).

  • For assistance with matching gifts, credit card gifts or publicly traded stocks and securities, please call Mary Ann Messing at 562.985.8491 or e-mail her at maryann.messing@csulb.edu.
  • For assistance with planned gifts, please contact Alina Mircea-Trotz at 562.985.5122 or alina.mirceatrotz@csulb.edu.
  • For more information, visit us online at Give to CSULB.

An endowment is a permanent fund that ensures the bright financial future of CSULB. It is a collection of donated contributions that generates earnings for use for a variety of educational programs and scholarships.

We invest the principal and then use the earnings on the investment to make a defined annual distribution (4.5% of a 36-month moving average). Any earnings above the distribution amount (net of fees) are returned to the principal so that it will continue to grow and offset the effects of inflation.

There are federal and state income tax deductions for contributions. We encourage donors to consult with tax advisors to optimize tax benefits.

Several endowment funding options are available. Often, gifts of cash or stock are used to fund an endowment. Endowments also can be funded through estate gifts, such as a bequest in a will. You may establish an endowment by making scheduled gifts for up to five years.

You may designate any purpose, including priority needs of CSULB. Generally, endowments fund scholarships, academic programs and faculty positions.

We encourage donors to name endowed funds.  Named endowments help our campus thrive, inspire the giving of others, and create a personal link to the university that will endure forever.

At CSULB, $25,000 is the minimum requirement for establishing a named endowment. Certain types of endowments require higher minimums; we are happy to provide you with information about the various funding levels.

The 49er Foundation manages more than 300 donor-established funds, which result in an average annual $2 million (and growing) impact on CSULB. Each year, the Foundation distributes an Endowment Report that illustrates the endowment’s growth and the thoughtful stewardship of your investment.

Mailing address/location:

CSULB 49er Foundation
1250 Bellflower Blvd BH 387
Long Beach, CA 90840

For more information about creating an endowment, contact the 49er Foundation offices at 562.985.5778, or e-mail 49erfoundation@csulb.edu.

Once you decide to create an endowment, a development professional from the 49er Foundation will work closely with you to help define the features of an endowment that will honor your wishes and meet the needs of CSULB.