Chapter Endowment Funds (CEF) have been created at the Triangle Education Foundation for eight chapters.  The CEF for Cincinnati was fully funded with proceeds from the sale of the chapter house.  CEFs for Michigan, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, SDM, Marquette, Penn State and Rose are currently being funded by alumni from those chapters.  Several additional chapters are talking about establishing a CEF.  If you are interested in contributing to one of the existing CEFs or starting one for your chapter, please contact the Foundation’s President, Scott Bova, at (317) 705-9803 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

What is a CEF?
A CEF is an endowment fund established to support the educational activities of a specific chapter.  It provides an annual grant to the chapter that can be used for various educational activities including the following:

• Educational grants to cover portions of the registration, travel, and accommodation expenses of members of your chapter attending leadership conferences of Triangle or another accredited leadership development program.
• Grants for educational resources in the chapter house, such as desks, bookcases, books, computers and software in the educational areas and for the construction, renovation, maintenance and equipment of Designated Educational Areas of your chapter home.
• Educational grants to cover portions of the registration, travel and accommodation expenses of members of your chapter attending professional society meetings and education events.
• Educational grants to underwrite portions of your chapter’s Leadership Advantage session.
• Educational grants to cover portions of the registration, travel, accommodations, supplies and equipment for academic competitions in which the chapter is participating.
• Scholarship grants to members of the chapter.
• And many more educational and leadership opportunities.

Once a CEF is fully funded with $25,000 or more, then annual grants up to 5% of the fund value can be made to the chapter for educational activities. A CEF with $25,000 will generate an annual grant of $1,250 forever and forever for the benefit of the chapter.  Proposals for the grants are submitted by a joint request from the actives and alumni of the chapter.

What are the benefits of a CEF?
A CEF is identical to having your own chapter foundation, but with significantly reduced administrative responsibilities.  The benefits of a CEF include:

• Donations are tax-deductible to the donor.
• All gifts are acknowledged and recognized
• The active and alumni organizations determine the use of the grant monies.
• An annual grant is available to the chapter to support its educational activities and facilities
• The funds are professionally invested and managed
• The funds are maintained in a separate account but are pooled for investment to provide diversification
• All tax returns are handled by the Foundation
• The funds are audited annually by Certified Public Accountants
• The funds are overseen by an outstanding Board of alumni members of the fraternity

The Foundation would love to have one or more CEFs for each chapter to help fund their educational activities or to provide scholarships.  The chapter can have multiple funds and a donor may establish a named fund.  We’d love to have you contribute to one of the establishing funds or help establish a new fund for your chapter.  As of June 30, 2009 the following funds had been created:

Cincinnati
Marquette
Michigan
Oklahoma
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Rose Tech
South Dakota Mines

Chapter Download the CEF Grant Application here.

AN UNDERGRADUATE PERSPECTIVE - Many men heading to university look for the ideal "college experience" - some see this as an "animal house" lifestyle, others look to spend the majority of their time in libraries, and a few desparately hope to meet their friends for life in their dormatory halls, leaving their happiness to chance.

I've been thankful enough to find the ideal experience at the University of Michigan through Triangle Fraternity.  Triangle has given me opportunities to serve my community, gain unparalleled leadership experience as a Recruitment Chairmen and President of my chapter, and help a great organization grow from 25 to over 60 men in two years.  The group impacts are noticable through our growth, but what's been most impressive is seeing my fraternity brothers, my best friends, grow as men in the values that our organization holds so dear.

I know my story is not unique.  Dozens of Triangle chapters across the country have the same great impact on their members, and help bring together men of values and integrity to make a positive difference in their lives.  Our chapter could not have the success it has had without the tireless work of motivated active brothers, the guidance of caring alumni, the assistance of our National organization, and great financial resources and leadership training sponsored by our Education Foundation.

Brothers, I look to you to relive your story of why Triangle has made such a great impact on your life, and help rekindle interest in your local chapter, either alma mater or nearby locally.  Support these great organizations to help continue our mission to develop balanced men in engineering, science, and architecture, contribute to the Foundation to maintain remarkable leadership programs, and reconnect with an active to build excitement for our family of brothers worldwide.

In F, S, & C,

Brother Trey Springer, mich07
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it