What Is a Family Endowment Fund?
A family endowment fund is a permanent charitable fund that “endows your current weekly, monthly or annual giving” to your favorite Catholic causes and continues after your death to provide ongoing financial support.
BENEFITS
- Perpetual Giving: Your fund provides annual gifts to your chosen Catholic organizations now and forever.
- Aligned with Your Values: You decide how your fund is distributed, and which Catholic causes it supports.
- Flexible & Easy to Establish: Start your fund with cash, securities, IRA distributions, or estate gifts.
- Tax Advantages: Your contributions may provide immediate and long-term tax benefits.
How to Start Your Family Fund in 6 Easy Steps
- Define Your Criteria and Values. Choose the causes that matter most your your family.
- Select Your Beneficiaries. Identify the parishes, schools, or ministries you currently support weekly, monthly, or annually and wish to continue these gifts after your death.
- Choose Your Funding Amount and Source. Decide how much to invest and the source of the funding. Use our SIMPLE FORMULA below to calculate how large your fund needs to be to generate a 5% annual distribution and provide forever support to your favorite Catholic causes after your death.
- Prepare Your Agreement. Work with the Catholic Foundation to formalize your intentions into a document so your wishes may be carried out.
- Grow Your Fund Over Time. Add gifts throughout your life and through your estate plan.
- Distribute Gifts Annually. The Catholic Foundation ensures your chosen organizations receive gifts right now and then annual after your death.
Endow Your Annual Giving
Suggested Funding Sources to Establish a Family Endowment Fund
START IT NOW WITH:
Cash
IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution
Appreciated Securities
START IT OR ADD TO IT LATER WITH:
Gifts in a Will
Life Insurance Beneficiary
Investment Account Beneficiary
Memorial Gift Included in an Obituary
IRA or 401K Beneficiary
Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Beneficiary
Let’s Talk About Starting a Family Endowment Fund.
The Catholic Foundation can help you start the conversation about endowing your family legacy of giving.
A family endowment fund creates a legacy that can transform Catholic causes forever.
