GIVING & MEMBERSHIP
The Rudder Association (TRA)
Passively Managed Endowments
Mission
Our Mission is to defend and perpetuate the core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service at Texas A&M. We provide a voice for Aggies who honor its Values, Traditions and Culture. We are Aggies to the Core!
Objective
To set the highest possible fiduciary standards by investing assets entrusted to us in accordance with proven investing principles and minimizing investment expenses. Distributions from endowments will benefit students studying at Texas A&M in College Station and programs of the TRA, as directed by donors.
Endow a gift through The TRA
The TRA is now able to offer our members, or anyone wishing to support Aggie students and our Mission, an opportunity to create a perpetual endowment.
Volunteer financial professionals have provided their services to assist us in creating a fully diversified endowment using passively managed investment products through Vanguard, the industry leader in low cost investments. The Vanguard Fund’s annual expense ratios of selected funds, ranging from .09% to .48% of assets, is low for any endowment that we know of, leaving more money available for distributions and growth.
Endowed funds would be invested in a globally diversified portfolio of domestic and international stocks, bonds, real estate investment trusts and commodities utilizing an asset allocation model approved by the TRA Board.
Once created, an annual amount of 4% of the year end endowment value can be directed in accordance with your wishes annually and in perpetuity via a signed gift use agreement. Options include, but are not limited to, academic scholarships, Aggie ring or boot scholarships, recruiting support or an unrestricted endowed gift to the TRA to be used where needed most. In the case of scholarships, recipients would be selected in accordance with donor preferences, by a committee appointed by the Board. The minimum endowment size is $25,000. Unrestricted gifts of $25,000 or more entitles the donor to lifetime membership in TRA and other recognition as decided by the Board of Directors.
For more information about this or other opportunities, contact Mark Browning ‘88, Development Director of the TRA at (979) 255-0336 or markbrowning88@gmail.com.