By Ashley Ashkenazi, development director
Most people think of charitable giving as something that supports a cause today. But some gifts are designed to create lasting impact—supporting important work for years, or even generations, to come. One of the most powerful ways to do that is through an endowment.
Endowment is a useful financial tool that helps organizations like us build a permanent source of support that continues funding important work long after a donor’s original gift is made.
What is an endowment
An endowment is a fund designed to grow over time. Instead of spending the original gift, it is invested, and a portion of the earnings is used each year to support grantmaking.
Because the original gift remains intact, the fund continues to generate support year after year—creating a lasting source of impact.
Think of an endowment like planting a tree. The initial gift is the seed. Over time, it grows and continues to bear fruit, benefiting others for generations.
Why endowment giving matters
Endowment gifts are powerful because they enable foundations to plan for both immediate needs and long-term impact.
Unlike one-time donations, endowment gifts create lasting financial stability—providing a reliable funding stream even as needs evolve and other sources fluctuate.
As these funds grow over time, they generate increasing support for the programs and priorities donors care about most.
For many donors, endowment giving is also about legacy—ensuring their generosity continues to make a difference for generations to come..
The Children’s Foundation of Michigan: Endowment for Kids
At the Children’s Foundation of Michigan, donors can support long-term impact through our Endowment for Kids.
This endowment helps ensure that resources are always available to support the health and well-being of Michigan’s children, not just today, but for generations to come.
When donors give to our Endowment for Kids, their contributions become part of a growing fund that continues supporting programs, partnerships, and innovations that improve children’s lives.
Ways to support the Endowment for Kids
Donors can contribute to the Endowment for Kids in two ways:
Give to Greatest Needs
Some donors choose to give where support is needed most. Gifts to Greatest Needs allow the Foundation to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities that improve children’s health and well-being.
Give to a Field of Interest
Others prefer to focus their giving on a specific issue area they care about. Through the Endowment for Kids, donors can support fields of interest including:
Suicide Prevention
Autism
Abuse + Neglect
Basic Needs
Childhood Cancer
Education
Maternal + Infant Health
Mental Health
Physical Health
Substance Use Disorder
A gift that lasts for generations
Some donors also choose to establish named endowment funds that reflect their personal values and philanthropic goals. These funds can support specific areas of impact that improve the lives of children.
Whether contributing to an existing fund or creating a named endowment, donors help build sustainable resources that support children’s health and well-being far into the future.
Because when you give through an endowment, your generosity doesn’t end with one gift—it continues making a difference for generations.
If you would like to learn more about starting your own named endowment fund, please contact Development Director, Ashley Ashkenazi at [email protected]
