The Industry Liaison Office for the Centre for Construction & Engineering Technologies

Student Awards

To facilitate student success at George Brown College, the George Brown College Foundation works with donors to create endowments and student awards.

With an endowment, donors sign an agreement to invest an amount in perpetuity. The annual interest generated on this amount is presented as a student award. Endowments are named in recognition of the donor(s). The base amount may be added to at any time. An endowment must generate interest for a full year before disbursements can begin. For example an endowment which has a minimum of $5,000 in principle and generates 4%-5% interest presents an annual student award of $200 - $250. Some donors want their awards to be a certain monetary value and make an annual donation to ensure the award value.

Currently, through the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) program, eligible contributions to endowments can be matched dollar-for-dollar.  This means a donation of $5,000 will become an endowment of $10,000. At 4% - 5% return this endowment would generate a student award of $400 - $500 per year. The principal in an endowment is never expended, so the award is presented in perpetuity.

Without an initial investment of funds, companies, groups and individuals can also establish annual student awards. Agreements can be made for a three, five or 10 year period to fund an annual student award at a particular financial level.

Contributions to endowments and student awards are charitable and the George Brown College Foundation will issue a full tax receipt. Donor representatives are invited to participate in the presentation of the annual student award. The GBC Fdn. charges no administration fee, so the total value of the contribution will be used to create an endowment or awarded as a student award.

The annual selection of a student to receive an award is determined by the Faculty and is based on criteria established in an endowment or award agreement. If the endowment is matched through the OTSS program certain criteria must be applied (ie. demonstrated financial need and residency in Ontario for the proceeding 12 months). We are happy to work with those establishing endowments and multi-year awards to include criteria which reflects the nature of the award, however, we ask donors to keep criteria general to ensure an award can be presented each year.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions concerning this information.

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Revised: October 28, 2011