Lourdes endowment and donor gift update
In the spirit of transparency and care for your generosity, we want to share that, as part of the closure process, as required by law, permanently restricted endowments and temporarily restricted gifts must be transferred to other educational, religious and charitable organizations.聽聽This is accomplished through a court proceeding in which the Ohio State Attorney General鈥檚 office will be a party.聽The University intends to request that all remaining temporarily restricted and endowment funds be transferred to one of its Teach Out partners.聽聽The University has not determined to which of its Teach Out Partners remaining endowment or restricted funds will be transferred at this time.聽 If approved by the court, the recipient institution will be required to聽use endowed funds in accordance with the terms of original fund agreements. We will keep you informed as more details emerge, including the identity of that institution. No funds will be moved without the court鈥檚 approval. Donors may become a party to the court proceeding at their own expense.
We know this moment carries deep emotion and reflection. For generations, Lourdes has been more than a place鈥攊t has been a community grounded in Franciscan values, where lives have been shaped by compassion, learning, and service. Your generosity has been part of that story, supporting students, faculty, and staff in meaningful and lasting ways.
Since the February announcement, our focus has been on walking alongside our students, faculty, and staff during this time of transition. Many students nearing graduation have expressed a heartfelt desire to complete their degrees at Lourdes.聽In response, we are honored to offer summer classes to help them finish what they began here. As a result, scholarship support for students and continued support for faculty and staff through August remain essential.
We invite you, in this final chapter of Lourdes, to continue accompanying our community in ways that feel meaningful to you:
If you have a permanently restricted endowed fund, you may choose to modify the restrictions so it may be used to support general scholarships currently in such amounts as the University deems appropriate.聽Any funds remaining when the University ceases academic instruction would be included in the legal proceeding to transfer restricted funds to another educational institution, 鈥攑reserving your named legacy in service to students for years to come.
Alternatively, you may release all restrictions on your temporarily restricted or endowment fund for immediate use through the President鈥檚 Discretionary Fund.聽This support will help meet urgent needs during the wind-down鈥攕tudent scholarships, emergency assistance, and care for faculty and staff. In doing so, your generosity will have its greatest impact in this moment of transition, directly supporting those who have called Lourdes home.
To modify the restrictions or release the restrictions on your temporarily restricted or endowment fund, please contact Karen Dibling or Ruthi Michell at聽development@lourdes.edu聽or 419-824-3980.聽 Once a determination has been made, we will prepare a formal agreement for your review and signature. This step ensures your intentions are clearly documented. We kindly ask that you share your intentions as soon as possible, but no later than by May 31, 2026.
If you have included Lourdes in your estate plans or named the university as a beneficiary, you may wish to update your intentions.聽If you would like your legacy to remain within the Franciscan tradition, we suggest considering the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation.
Your gifts have already made a difference鈥攁nd continue to do so. They are helping sustain programs, support students completing their studies, and care for our campus community in these final months.
If you feel called to make an additional gift before June 30, we would be grateful to walk with you in that process. Above all, please know this: your generosity has been a blessing. It has opened doors, lifted burdens, and reflected the very heart of the Lourdes mission.
As we move forward, we carry deep gratitude for you and for the role you have played in this community. Thank you for walking with us鈥攑ast, present, and in these final steps.
