4-H Endowment Trust
While the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation’s primary focus is funding the immediate needs of the state’s 4-H programs, it is also anticipating the future needs of Massachusetts 4-H. The Foundation’s ability to achieve both of these critical objectives is due, in large part, to the visionary efforts of its leadership in developing the Endowment Trust.
The 4-H Endowment Trust is an investment fund that maintains its principal in perpetuity and only pays out a small portion from interest to provide supplemental funding for 4-H programs and to cover the Foundation’s overhead. The Endowment Trust has two financial goals: to grow the principal and to generate income for the purposes cited above.
Steady Growth
The 4-H Endowment Trust is currently valued at over $7 million. Through the years, the Endowment has steadily grown as the result of both a sound investment strategy and a steady stream of new contributions. In the last five years, the income from the Endowment has contributed over $1.44 million to 4-H programs throughout the Commonwealth. Our endowment policies dictate that on September 30th of each year we calculate the average value of the Endowment during the most recent three years. Then the Board approves a withdrawal (typically between 4 – 4.5%) for the succeeding year.
The Endowment Trust dates back to the early 1980’s when the Foundation received a significant gift from the estate of Henry Ellis Warren, a business owner and the inventor of the electric clock. Inspired by Mr. Warren’s extraordinary generosity, other donors established funds with the intention of providing a sustainable financial base for the good works of the Foundation. The Foundation’s Endowment Trust currently includes 22 restricted endowed funds.
Opportunities for Donors
Opportunities are always available for interested donors to help strengthen the Endowment Trust. This will ensure that the Foundation’s ability to fund 4-H programs will continue well into the future.
For more information about how you can support the 4-H Foundation’s Endowment Trust, contact Laurie Flanagan, the Foundation’s Executive Director, at [email protected] or 508-881-1244.
