Charity Endowments

An endowment is any asset donated to and for the perpetual benefit of a non-profit institution.  Let us help keep your dream alive.

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   It is a common misconception that endowments are just for large nonprofits such as universities and hospitals. But endowment funds can be started for nonprofits of any size.  With an endowment, facing the ups and downs of the economy and fundraising becomes easier. And there’s no time like right now to get started. Why? Because donors care more than ever about helping their favorite organizations and causes to become sustainable well into the future.

What is an Endowment?

An endowment is a fund that is restricted. Only the interest from the fund can be spent, not the principal that anchors the endowment. Usually, only a portion of the interest or earnings from the endowment (typically five percent) can be spent annually to make sure that the original funds grow over time. Professional money managers often oversee endowment funds, investing the money in stocks, bonds, and other investments.

Charity Endowments, Charity Donations, Financial Advisors, How To Start An Endowment, Family Endowment

Leaving Your Legacy

An endowment stands as a lasting reminder to your children and succeeding generations of the values and charitable works that are most important to you

Research Financial Strategies leverages decades of experience managing investments for a wide range of institutions to help our endowment and foundation clients

The Advantages of an Endowment

Small and new nonprofits often only think about the current fiscal year or the next payroll. It is important to for them to get out of that financial trap as soon as possible.  An endowment helps diversify the organization’s income and reduces their vulnerability to every economic crisis.

Endowment funds impress donors, especially generous donors. They know that your nonprofit manages its’ resources well, plans efficiently, and will likely survive any crisis that may occur.  Donors also love the option of giving a gift that keeps on giving well into the future, and the opportunity to support the needs of the moment such as operating and program funding.

The Disadvantages of an Endowment

You might be criticized for having an endowment or for having an endowment that seems too large. Some renowned universities have come under attack for growing huge endowments while claiming not to have funds for other uses.

Small nonprofits may be criticized for not spending every dime on current needs. Even funders such as foundations might slight an organization that already has plenty of money. However, donors usually think well of organizations that show the ability to stash away money for the future.

How to Get Started With an Endowment

First, reflect on how much you want to have in your endowment ultimately. You might look at the amount of money needed to fund your organization annually. You know that some of that money comes through your regular fundraising efforts and some through fees from your clients.

How much do you want to come from your endowment? One expert recommends that you have at least three times your annual operating budget as a minimum endowment.

You can start an endowment with any amount of money, however small. But to build an endowment of any size is a long-term project. You will need to cultivate donors over time since many endowment gifts come as a result of a bequest when a donor dies.
Your board should set up the rules of the endowment. For instance, you will want to name the endowment, restrict its use, and provide guidelines for how much of the interest can be employed yearly and when the endowment principal can be tapped if needed under extraordinary circumstances. The endowment can be set up within your existing nonprofit corporation, or it can be spun off into a separate 501(c)(3) organization or foundation.
Although it is not expensive or difficult to start an endowment, you will want to get some help. Your community foundation may be able to help you, including holding the endowment for you. Also, work closely with your accountant and attorney so that your endowment complies with your state’s requirements.

Raising the Money for Your Endowment

Explain to potential donors why you are setting up an endowment. How do you plan to use the fund and its earnings? Answer any questions in all of you fundraising materials for the endowment, provide them on your website and include them in the content you supply to your volunteers (such as board members) who will “sell” the endowment to prospective donors.

Find out if other organizations similar to yours in your community have endowments and how they use them. These facts will be helpful to show that what you are doing is not unusual, much less illegal. Explain your endowment building as good stewardship ensuring that your organization continues doing good in your community for many years to come.

Make sure that your fundraising for the endowment takes second place to your fundraising for immediate needs. Always make sure that you have enough money coming in to support your annual expenses before you fundraise for an endowment.
Likewise, ensure that you have a “rainy day” fund that you can tap quickly should unexpected problems arise. An endowment is not a rainy day fund. You should not approach every donor for endowment fundraising. Since wills and bequests usually make up the main components of endowment fundraising, choose your donors carefully and cultivate them over time.

Endowment donors want to leave a legacy and provide for the long-term future of your organization. Set up a planned-giving program to keep up your endowment fundraising. Market it through different materials, seminars, events, and a legacy society.

Build a persuasive case for your endowment. Why should your donors make a long-term investment in your organization? How will their gift change lives, even save lives well into the future? Explain how your organization will be a good steward of your donors’ gifts. Provide lots of ways for people to make their donations and explain how you plan to recognize them or what benefits they will receive.

Why You Should Get Started Now

Just like any savings program, starting early works. Even in less than ideal economic situations, you start working on building an endowment. It is not a task or goal that you can achieve overnight. Begin now so that you can create much more stable financial position years down the road.

What are you waiting for?

Charity Endowments, Charity Donations, Financial Advisors, How To Start An Endowment, Family Endowment
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