Endowments
Nebraska 4-H Youth Development requires substantial, consistent and permanent funding and, by receiving such funds, Nebraska 4-H can continue to provide innovative youth development programs. Endowment funds embody such a need. Gifts are invested in perpetuity, and distribution from the invested contributions is used to fund the desired activities. A portion of the income may be reinvested in the fund to further enhance the fund’s buying power over time.
Because endowments are intended by the donors to be permanent enhancements to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, and because they are intended to fund important 4-H programs and activities, two important objectives guide the investment of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation Endowment Fund:
- To preserve and maintain the real purchasing power of the fund’s principal.
- To produce a return that would be described as acceptable by prudent money managers as compared to the current marketplace.
Foundation Master Endowment
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation Endowment distributes program grants annually and supports the administrative cost of the volunteer board. The endowment is pertinent to the success of Nebraska 4-H and supports many important programs throughout the state.
The grants are awarded to many different innovative projects and programs including areas in technology, science, work-force preparation and many more.
For more information on endowments, please call the Nebraska 4-H Foundation at 402-472-1178
Named Endowments
Donors may also set up named endowments in which the earned income is designated to the specific interest of the donor. Examples of these funds include:
- Del and Ramona Dearborn Endowment
- Wes Antes National 4-H Congress Endowment
- 4-H Alumni Endowment
- Ernie and Jan Mehl Endowment
- Rose McDonald Endowment
- R.B Warren Endowment
- Madelynne Black Endowment
- Don and Martha Romeo Endowment
- Donna Wampler Endowment
The endowment description, authorized by the Board of Trustees when the fund is established, states each named fund’s purpose. Each fund is administered by the Nebraska 4-H Foundation who has the responsibility to make expenditures from the fund under directions set forth in the endowment description. If distributions are not used in a given fiscal year, the Foundation may carry the balance forward into the next fiscal year for purposes specified in the endowment description; or the unused distribution may be reinvested to principal, thereby securing additional shares.
If you have questions regarding your endowment fund, please contact the Foundation office at (402)472-1178.
Who Manages the Endowment?
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation strives to earn the highest possible return from interest, dividends, realized gains and market value increases while maintaining an appropriate level of risk. To do this, the services of external investment managers are utilized. The Board of Trustees closely monitors the performance of the endowment portfolio with re-allocation occurring as needed.
How is a Fund Established?
New named funds are established by the Board of Trustees upon receipt of a gift of $10,000 or more for an unrestricted endowed fund and $20,000 for a restricted endowed fund. Endowment descriptions are approved by the donor and the Nebraska 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees itself.
