Also known as Bucks for Brains, the Research Trust Fund (RTF) is an endowment that allows Marshall University (MU) and West Virginia University (WVU) to double private gifts that support expansions to research faculty and infrastructure in key areas linked to economic development, health care and job growth. This program supports research in energy, biotechnology, biomedical, identification technology, material science and engineering and environmental science. Private gifts are matched dollar-for-dollar.

The endowment was created by the West Virginia Legislature in 2008 with an investment of $50 million in surplus revenue.  While the endowed funds was established at WVU and MU, the state’s other public four-year higher education institutions were eligible to respond to specific requests for proposals for matching grants supported by interest earned on the trust fund.

As of January 2013, both Marshall University and West Virginia University had achieved donations to match their Bucks for Brains allotment of $15 million and $35 million respectively.

The institutions who received awards from the Research Trust Fund interest earnings were Shepherd University, Fairmont State University, West Liberty University, West Virginia State University and West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

No more additional funds are available for distribution.

Links to annual reports regarding the Research Trust Fund can be found in our library. The original rules from 2008 can be found here.