Non Profit Status and Advantages - East Stroudsburg University - ESU

THE EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

The ESU Foundation is a private non-profit organization dedicated to securing and stewarding private gifts and grants that benefit East Stroudsburg University. Each year, thousands of generous benefactors make gifts to show their support for East Stroudsburg University.

Advantages of the Foundation

An independent Foundation provides advantages to donors and the University because:

It is a private, non-profit organization existing solely for the benefit of East Stroudsburg University and its affiliated organizations.
It operates in a politically neutral, cost-conscious environment conducive to carrying out its mission efficiently and effectively.
It provides a private/public partnership vehicle for securing and managing financial support beyond that which is appropriated from state funds.
It allocates unrestricted gifts to help in areas which otherwise could not be funded because of limited state resources.

It manages and distributes donated funds according to donors' wishes under the guidelines authorized and monitored by an independent governing board.

The Importance of Independence

Operating independently of East Stroudsburg University is important for the Foundation because:

By maintaining an independent, uncompensated board of directors, the Foundation can more effectively involve interested volunteers in the fund-raising efforts required for ESU, and can instill in these friends essential elements of successful fund raising such as a sense of pride, accomplishment and ownership.
An independent foundation can serve the University by maintaining private fund accounts from one fiscal year to the next, whereas many state fund accounts must be closed at the end of each fiscal year.
An independent organization can more effectively maintain confidentiality of donor information when anonymity is requested by benefactors.
Independence permits flexibility in the short-term investment options of money needed for near-term expenditures, and also allows flexibility in choosing long-term investment opportunities for endowment assets.
An independent organization can effectively maintain a long-term perspective on the needs and priorities of East Stroudsburg University unaffected by political vagaries and other short-term circumstances.

Ethical Standards of the ESU Foundation

The successful partnership between East Stroudsburg University and the East Stroudsburg University Foundation, Inc. is based on effective service, trust and accountability.

The Foundation's governing board is sensitive to considerations of public trust and confidence. Their words and actions embody respect for truth, fairness and the opinions of others.
The ESU Foundation is committed to promoting the merits of East Stroudsburg University and of education generally.
It safeguards privacy rights and confidential information.
It does not grant or accept favors for the personal gain of any individual, nor does it solicit or accept favors where a higher public interest would be violated.
It avoids actual or apparent conflicts of interest and, if in doubt, seeks guidance from appropriate authorities.