Donate to the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens

How to Fund Your Very Own Endowment

"Only the very wealthy can create endowments." Has this thought kept you from considering the creation of your own endowment? If so, the next few paragraphs may change your mind. You'll discover that nearly anyone, with a little planning, can establish an endowment of their very own to fund a particular program or project at the Bartlett Arboretum. Endowments can be named for you, your family or a loved one and used to support a specific area of the Bartlett of interest to you. Programs or projects that can be supported include the general care and upkeep of the grounds, acquisition of new specimens to the permanent collections, support for capital or new equipment for the Bartlett’s educational and other community initiatives.

Endowments are like artesian wells; they never run dry. That’s because our policies prohibit us from spending endowment principal. Only the income or a portion of the income can be used to meet the purposes of the endowment as specified by you.
For example, let’s say you create an endowment to provide support for the care and upkeep of a garden. Once established, your endowment will generate an annual financial grant to help with the costs associated with that care. Even after your death, your endowment will continue to live on in perpetuity. This enduring quality makes endowments the perfect tool to create a lasting legacy.

No doubt the next question you may have is how much does it cost to establish an endowment. The Bartlett requires a minimum of $20,000 to create an endowment. This may seem like a lot of money, but it is helpful to know that the Bartlett permits a donor to fund an endowment over a five-year period. Spreading cash gifts over several years may also have tax benefits for you. The timing of it is a very important consideration; here are a couple of options for you to consider:

Do It Now
Some individuals prefer to establish their endowments now so they can enjoy watching them grow and benefit the Bartlett.

Use Cash. Finding enough cash to launch an endowment is rarely possible. But sometimes we receive an unexpected windfall through an inheritance or the larger-than-expected proceeds from the sale of a valuable asset.

Use Securities. Do you have publicly traded stock that is highly appreciated in value but low in dividend return? Why not use this to start your endowment? Since the Bartlett can sell your stock without incurring a capital gains tax, it may be the perfect funding method for you.

Do It Later
While it may not be feasible to start an endowment now, your estate will likely have enough resources at your death.

Consider these possibilities:
Use the Remainder of a Trust. Donors sometimes establish a trust during their lifetime to provide themselves with ongoing income. When they are gone, whatever remains in the trust is disbursed according to instructions in the trust document. This, of course, can include the funding and creation of a named endowment with the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens. Trusts are very popular as gift and estate planning tools and may provide you with an excellent way to establish your endowment.

Use Insurance Proceeds. Do you have a life insurance policy you no longer need for protection? You could sign part or all of the policy over to the Bartlett for the purpose of creating an endowment when you are gone.

Use a Bequest From Your Will. The most popular way to fund a future endowment is to earmark a portion of one's estate for this purpose. If you do decide to create an endowment through a bequest, be sure to talk with us to make sure your attorney uses our proper legal name and address.

Do It Now and Later
You may want to start your endowment now, modestly, and then add to it later through your estate plan. In this way you could see the fund in operation and enjoy knowing the good it will do for the Bartlett.

If you would like to learn more ways to fund an endowment and about the program in general, call (203) 322-6971, Ext. 11.