An endowment is a fund where the capital is held for the long term and invested. Income generated from the capital held in an endowment provides stable funding in perpetuity for an organization or program.
The conservation of endangered & threatened ecosystems is a long-term initiative. Effective conservation requires long-term planning, management and financing. Such efforts are thus ideally suited for support via an endowment.
All donated funds will be added to an endowment fund managed by the Vancouver Foundation.
Vancouver Foundation is the largest community foundation in Canada with more than $800 million and 1,000 endowment funds under management. The Foundation’s capacity to serve communities throughout the province is directly tied to its ability to preserve and enhance its financial assets. To ensure that the goals of the Foundation are met, an Investment Committee comprised of senior volunteers with extensive knowledge in the investment field, provide oversight and monitor investment performance. There are many financial advantages in holding this endowment fund with Vancouver Foundation:
The Foundation has the professional staff, management experience, sophisticated board supervision and strong community commitment needed to manage endowments effectively.
The capital of this fund is invested and a portion of the annual returns (currently 5%) are able to be distributed each year. If no distributions are required, such as from now until 2010, this income can be reinvested to grow the fund’s value. After 2010, if the distributable income available is greater than the amount needed to support a granting program, the excess will be invested back into the fund, helping it to grow further over time.