Establishing an Endowment Fund
Building a strong foundation.
You can establish a named endowment fund using cash, securities, real estate, or through an irrevocable planned gift or bequest in your will. This can also be accomplished by a combination of gift options. Many people start a named endowment fund early so they can watch it grow and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing their fund benefit others, adding to it periodically and through a final provision in their estate. Some even encourage friends or family members to become involved by contributing to their fund.
Named Endowed Fund Levels
In general, the minimum level of support that earns special recognition as a named endowment fund is $25,000, payable over a designated period of years. In certain areas, higher minimums have been established as follows:
Student Support
Full Scholarship (boarding student) $600,000
Full Scholarship (day student) $300,000
Named Scholarship (partial) $100,000
Named Family Fund $25,000
Named Award or Prize Fund $10,000
Faculty Support
Faculty Chair $1,000,000
Master Teacher Fund $100,000
Faculty Development/Research Fund $100,000
Elements That Can Be Influenced By the Donor
Gender of recipient
Merit vs. need (what academic standards, if any, are required)
A student’s locale (preference can be given to a specific geographical area)
Investment Strategy
The principal of an endowment fund will be invested as part of the Darlington endowment according to the investment policies established by the school’s Board of Trustees and carried out by the Finance Committee.
It is Darlington’s policy to invest all endowment funds in a balanced and broadly diversified portfolio comprised of conservative, fixed-income securities (bonds and money market funds) as well as more aggressive equity securities (stocks and managed stock funds).
Stewardship
Acknowledgment and stewardship are provided for named endowment funds via:
Listing in the Honor Roll of Donors
Regular communication
Financial Reports
Recipient Reports
Use of name in public forums, including print materials and presentations
Contact us
Darlington is able to help draft the legal documentation needed for an endowed fund. For more details on endowment policies and gifts, please contact our Advancement Office.
