Friday, May 7, 2010

What is an Endowment?


I did a presentation and book signing at Freedom Theatre sponsored by African Tropic Decor Gallery, Inc. It was a wonderful evening. The art on display was uniquely fantastic.

Well, we had lots of questions which I enjoy the most when I do these presentations. I share one with you here. What is an Endowment? First, an endowment is not a bequest which is a gift left in a will. Note, a bequest could go towards an endowment. An endowment is not a trust which serves a specific purpose and generally can hold a variety of assets.

An endowment is a fund established generally with money, but can include real estate and other assets, to benefit an institution or person. It has a specific purpose and the money in the fund is to be applied for that purpose. In an endowment fund, the principal is invested, and only a portion of the investment earnings, income, is spent. The rest of the earnings are directed back into the fund, so that the endowment grows over time. In this manner, the endowment becomes a perpetual source of funding for whatever the person making the donation wishes to achieve.

Leave your comments here or contact us at www.ythlaw.com

No comments: