Florida benefits from a unique private-public partnership that encourages the 11 state universities to establish endowments for academic initiatives. The basic premise is to provide donors with an incentive in the form of matching state grants, thereby increasing the value of the donation. Since 1979, the state universities have used the matching gifts program to establish more than 2,300 permanent endowments worth $1.24 billion. Originally, the Legislature created two matching gift programs for non-capital academic endowments at the state universities. However, as the programs gained notoriety, the Eminent Scholars program was folded into the larger program, the Trust Fund for Major Gifts, in 1994. Today the program is commonly known as the Major Gifts program, but still maintains both matching gift initiatives. In an effort to curb the continued growth in the program, the Board of Governors has recommended changes to the program. These changes focus on restructuring the matching gift levels and percentages of state match. As part of its 2005 Legislative package, the Board will be working with the Legislature to modify the Major Gift Statute (s. 1011.94, F.S.). (Contains 2 footnotes and 5 exhibits.) [This information brief was prepared by Education Policy and Research, Division of Colleges and Universities, Florida Department of Education.]