Endowment
 In order to provide a secure future for the School, Friends Meeting School is working to increase the size of it's endowment. Currently the FMS Endowment is less than $100,000, an amount too small to ensure the sustainability of our program.
What is an endowment?
An endowment is an investment fund maintained on behalf of an institution, usually a non-profit organization. Depending on donor intent the funds may be permanently restricted so that only the the income earned from the investments are available for use by the organization. It is also possible that the funds restricted in such a way that they are available to the organization in the event of an economic emergency.
Some people prefer to donate in such a way that the income on the investments is restricted to specific purpose such as student financial aid, professional development, support of a specific science program, or building maintenance. Some people prefer that the income be available for general operations.
An endowment acts as a safety net for an organization. A well-managed, healthy endowment often contributes a set amount of the budget each year, thus ensuring that core services will be insulated from the vagaries of current economic conditions or student enrollment. It helps the school weather difficult financial times.
 Growing an endowment can be a difficult task. While no gift is too small, larger gifts are encouraged so that the income generated from those gifts can have a significant impact on the School. Many people like that their larger donations will be held for the benefit of this generation as well as future generations of students. An endowment donation is a gift that gives to the School each year, in perpetuity.
Even though people believe in the importance of FMS' success, some people are not able to give significant amounts to the School during their lifetime. They do, however, support us as part of their estate plan through specific bequests or assignments of insurance proceeds.
Because FMS is asking people to participate in the education of future generations by making significant contributions today, we want those gifts to be made in the context of a planned gift. Such large donations should be made only after careful reflection about your own family's needs, your interest in FMS, and your other charitable interests.
Friends Meeting School is happy to meet with you and your estate planning professional to discuss the many ways you can help the School through endowment giving.
Please call Annette Breiling, Head of School, at 301-798-0288 if you would like additional information or to schedule an an appointment.
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