It seems that more and more small to medium-sized organizations are starting endowment funds. The pandemic really drove home the need for such things.

CEOs and board members are told that an endowment will increase donor confidence and encourage bigger gifts. Not surprisingly, they are eager to show it off to donors.

So imagine the surprise when I tell my clients to remove the shiny new “Endowment” page from their websites.

Annual fund managers will immediately recognize this approach. Each year, the same ask from the same people needs a new theme, new stories, maybe even a new logo. But it works as a strategy for grants too.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.