Offices of Lutheran Social Services of the South - Austin, Texas
Endowments for Agencies or Organizations
What is an Agency or Organization Endowment?
An endowment in the name of an agency or organization is a fund established to provide an annual income for special challenges or opportunities for the agency, or for operating expenses. The principal or corpus of the fund is invested and the income can be used for a variety of purposes.
Several advantages accrue to organizations through the establishment of an endowment. The first advantage is to individual donors who can use the endowment as a means of making cash gifts, or as a vehicle for planned gifts to a favorite ministry even after the donor's lifetime. An endowment offers an opportunity for everyone to "leave a legacy."
An endowment creates a consistent financial base not dependent on annual budget considerations. An endowment provides an orderly, established, and convenient means to receive and administer special gifts that the organization might receive. An endowment reminds God's people that wills and estate planning are part of Christian stewardship and are God-given opportunities to put LOVE into action for our families, our church, and our Lord.
An endowment gives a long-term vision to a church's ministry. Donors know that an estate gift given through a will or bequest will be put to an important special use rather than simply added to the operational budget.
How LFOT Can Assist Organizations in Endowment Fund Raising
By far the most important function of the Foundation is to encourage, educate, and facilitate gifts to endowments. In fact, the key to building a successful endowment is the ability to gather additional gifts for that fund on a continuing basis. If only the income or growth from the money used to "seed" the endowment remains available, the endowment will only be able to fund a limited amount no matter what type of investment return is generated.
It is in this area that the staff of the Lutheran Foundation of Texas is uniquely qualified to assist organizations in promoting the growth of their funds so that they can both fulfill and expand the purpose for which they were created.
For those organizations that establish endowments with the Foundation, the staff can assist in promoting those funds in the following ways.
Customized Promotional Materials
For those agencies that have endowments managed by the Foundation, our office can create custom or "tailor-make" materials about your fund(s) to help you promote your program. There is no cost for these items. Available materials include:
- Brochures for distribution or display
- Bulletin/newsletter announcements and inserts
- Newsletter articles
- Promotional letters to potential donors
- Poster (Note: some expense may be incurred)
- Recognition plaque on your endowment (for display)
- Memorial/tribute card and remittance envelope
Custom materials can be provided to you via e-mail, on disc or on hard copy as is appropriate.
LFOT Support Services
Additionally, the Foundation can provide counsel or personnel at no cost to assist in promoting your fund(s) in these ways:
- Sponsorship of informational programs for prospective donors by Foundation staff members. In these programs, the Foundation will always customize its screen presentation and handouts so that they highlight your endowment. (For more information on presentations, see Wills, Estate and Gift Planning Seminars.)
- Help in organizing a special presentation to selected prospects who might have an interest in making a planned gift to the endowment.
- Visit "one-on-one" with prospects to discuss planned giving methods to support the fund.
- Meet with attorneys, CPAs and other financial/estate advisors in your organization to promote funds and other planned gifts to benefit the endowment. (See also For the Advisors.)
- Advise on promoting your endowment through a variety of venues.
- Provide guidance on developing a comprehensive plan to promote your fund(s) through a specially-designed Planned Giving Campaign/Planned Group Society.
Help in designing a comprehensive promotion program
Of all the services the Foundation can provide to those whose funds we manage, the best is assistance in designing a comprehensive program to help promote your fund(s). Typically, this can be mapped out for a 1-2 hour period and includes a combination of using printed promotional materials, presentations and personal visits in accordance with your goals and objectives. Everything is done to fit your circumstance and needs. Again, there is no cost for this service.
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Please contact us for more information.