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Endowment Report

Long-term investments for long-term impact

Endowments are investments that allow UMass Dartmouth to grant financial assistance to students and to develop the innovative academic programming that distinguishes the institution apart as a national research university. Supporting student scholarships, professorships, programs, and other institutional priorities, endowed funds enable the university to make commitments far into the future, while assuring donors that their gifts will serve their intended purposes and extend their philanthropic legacy. Approximately 4% of the principal of an endowment is awarded each year, delivering a lasting impact.

With 82% of UMass Dartmouth students receiving financial aid, endowed scholarships are essential for making it possible for these motivated students to pursue their academic goals here. These gifts contribute to retaining the best students, bolstering research initiatives, and enhancing the university’s reputation as an affordable, world-class education and research institution in the SouthCoast.

Endowment data

FY24 UMass Dartmouth endowment highlights

UMass Dartmouth’s endowment experienced growth in FY2024, climbing to $88.5 million in support of the university’s mission. This 16.7 percent increase is attributed in part to matching incentives from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive Program (PHEEIP), which motivated generous donors to establish 21 new endowments valuing nearly $2 million. With a focus on generating long-lasting financial support for students and programs, the continued growth of the UMass Dartmouth endowment is a critical component of the university’s fundraising strategy.

Total endowment

$88.5M

Total endowed funds distributed

$2,690,176

Endowed scholarships distributed to students in FY2024

$1,062,592

New funds created

20

Total endowments

316
As of June 30 2024

Endowment dollars

Distributed in FY2024

Endowment growth

FY2020-FY2024

The University of Massachusetts Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) stewards endowed funds for all five campuses in the University of Massachusetts system, applying a future-focused strategy to generate sustainable returns for long-term support for scholarships, academic programs, and faculty development. Fueled by campus fundraising efforts and comprised of 3,096 individual funds, the UMass Foundation Endowment serves as a critical resource for advancing the mission of the University of Massachusetts and empowering future generations to thrive. For more information about the performance of the UMass Foundation endowment, please view it's fiscal year 2024 report here.

Endowment in action

At UMass Dartmouth, endowed scholarships are more than just a financial resource—they are a lifeline that empowers students to pursue their academic and professional dreams. For many, these scholarships provide the support needed to overcome financial obstacles and unlock opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

In their own words, these students share how endowed scholarships have the transformative power to ease their financial burdens, strengthen their determination to succeed, and foster personal and academic growth that defines their futures.

John and Gail Sampieri
John and Gail Sampieri
“UMass Dartmouth is so important to our region. It opens up so many opportunities for students and families. We are believers in public education and acknowledge the value of having this research university in our backyard.”
Gail Sampieri '70

Inspired by their daughter Sara’s passion for her work at the Coastal Systems Program and motivated by the Massachusetts Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive Program, John and Gail Sampieri deepened their philanthropic commitment to UMass Dartmouth and established an endowment that would provide long-lasting support for the program. 

The Sampieri's endowment supports summer interns in the Coastal Systems Program--the logistical, educational, and data synthesis center for water quality monitoring throughout southeastern Massachusetts that maintains operational and analytical support for all the region's towns.

Read more about how a love of the SouthCoast and parents’ pride inspired the Sampieris to build a philanthropic legacy at UMass Dartmouth.

Drake Ssempijja ’28
Drake Ssempijja ’28
“I’m lucky to be attending the School for Marine Science & Technology under a research assistantship with Professor Pingguo He in the Fish Behavior and Conservation Engineering Research Group, but there are still student fees and research expenses that must be funded somehow. This scholarship helped me relieve that financial strain and gave me a peace of mind so I can concentrate on what’s important, and that’s science.”
Drake Ssempijja ’28 SMAST

Hailing from Uganda, Ssempijja is a Ph.D. research assistant focusing on plastic pollution from discarded fishing gear in inland fisheries, particularly in the developing world. He is the recipient of the Brian Rothschild Scholarship.

Jackie Sassin ’27
Jackie Sassin ’27
“Thanks to this scholarship, I’m able to get the most out of my college experience. I can commit myself to my academics as an Honors College student, which requires me to do challenging assignments and maintain a high GPA. Without worrying about how I’ll cover my tuition costs, I’ve been growing as a student and professional through different opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible without this scholarship.”
Jackie Sassin ’27 Honors College

Sassin, a first-generation student and recipient of the Donald H. Ramsbottom Endowed Scholarship, expertly balances her involvement in Corsair Cheer with on- and off-campus jobs that prepare her to become a marketing professional.

Jacob Paris ’25
Jacob Paris ’25
“This scholarship meant that I didn’t need to find a full-time job. I could participate in track and field/cross country, work in the Admission Office as a tour guide, and have both fit neatly with my classes. One day, I hope to fund a scholarship for student-athletes who face long, exhausting schedules of practice, games, and homework.”
Jacob Paris ’25 College of Engineering

As captain of the track and field/cross country teams, Paris earned All-LEC First Team honors in 2023, finishing third at the Little East Championship, and is the recipient of the Alexander T. & Jan K. Andreassen Endowed Scholarship.

Adrianna Pacheco ’22, JD ’25
Adrianna Pacheco ’22, JD ’25
“My laptop wasn’t compatible with a specific exam software that was required for my studies at UMass Law. This software was critical to my academic success, but thankfully, a scholarship helped me purchase a new one. With the right tools, I’ve been able to work with course materials and learn from them without difficulty.”
Adrianna Pacheco ’22, JD ’25 UMass Law

A CATIC Foundation Endowment Scholarship recipient, Pacheco is a proud ‘UMassD lifer’ with an undergraduate degree in history and a law degree in progress.

Davon Fuentes ’25
Davon Fuentes ’25
“Because of this scholarship, I was able to continue my involvement in Corsair Band and could work just the weekends. I didn’t have to make sacrifices in terms of losing this extracurricular program, which is historically the best it’s ever been. As the Band’s treasurer, I wouldn’t have been able to balance working full-time and leading our wind and jazz ensembles, which is important to me and my future career in music education.”
Davon Fuentes ’25 College of Visual & Performing Arts

Fuentes has set his sights on sharing his love for the arts and music through music education with support from the Lady Mary Morley Crapo Hyde Eccles Scholarship.

Isabel Borges ’26
Isabel Borges ’26
“As a student in a demanding major and paying for tuition on my own, I have to work while I am in school. However, the support that I have received from this scholarship allowed me to stay focused on my clinicals at St. Anne’s Hospital and care for my patients without worrying about financial stressors. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to help the community and grow as a student and person.”
Isabel Borges ’26 College of Nursing & Health Sciences

The recipient of the Margaret O’Grady Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Borges is committed to both her studies and supporting others’ success as a tutor at the Academic Resource Center.

Jalyn Aponte ’25
Jalyn Aponte ’25
“This scholarship mentally and physically prepared me to be successful in the classroom and a leader on the football team. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to return to UMass Dartmouth this semester, but this aid helped me stay on the right path and kept structure in my life.”
Jalyn Aponte ’25 College of Arts & Sciences

Aponte, a first-generation student-athlete and recipient of the College Now—Donald C. Howard Endowed Scholarship, balances his commitment to academics with his role as a standout running back for Corsair Football.

Rebecca Mejia ’25
Rebecca Mejia ’25
“During these past few years, I have found myself struggling with my mental health, and college became difficult at times. I had to take breaks from working full-time and participating in extracurricular activities to take care of myself and my family. I feel strongly that this scholarship aided me in making a comeback as a scholar and reclaiming myself as a person.”
Rebecca Mejia ’25 Charlton College of Business

Mejia, a recipient of the John M. & Julie T. Murphy Endowed Scholarship, gains valuable experience as a senior peer counselor in the Financial Aid Office, where she answers students’ questions.

Thank you

Questions? Contact advancement@umassd.edu

Contact

Staff

University Advancement

508-999-8200  advancement@umassd.edu  

Foster Administration, 011

285 Old Westport Road •  Dartmouth MA 02747

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