(1) Subject to the
intent of a donor expressed in the gift instrument, an
institution may appropriate for expenditure or accumulate so much
of an endowment fund as the institution determines is prudent for
the uses, benefits, purposes, and duration for which the
endowment fund is established. Unless stated otherwise in the
gift instrument, the assets in an endowment fund are
donor-restricted assets until appropriated for expenditure by the
institution. In making a determination to appropriate or
accumulate, the institution shall act in good faith, with the
care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would
exercise under similar circumstances, and shall consider, if
relevant, the following factors:
(a) The duration and preservation of the endowment fund;
(b) The purposes of the institution and the endowment fund;
(c) General economic conditions;
(d) The possible effect of inflation or deflation;
(e) The expected total return from income and the
appreciation of investments;
(f) Other resources of the institution; and
(g) The investment policy of the institution.
(2) To limit the authority to appropriate for expenditure or
accumulate under subsection (1) of this section, a gift
instrument must specifically state the limitation.
(3) Terms in a gift instrument designating a gift as an
endowment, or a direction or authorization in the gift instrument
to use only "income," "interest," "dividends," or "rents, issues,
or profits," or "to preserve the principal intact," or words of
similar import:
(a) Create an endowment fund of permanent duration unless
other language in the gift instrument limits the duration or
purpose of the fund; and
(b) Do not otherwise limit the authority to appropriate for
expenditure or accumulate under subsection (1) of this section.
[2009 c 436 § 4.]