Compass for Kids Endowment Fund
Investing in the Future
The Compass for Kids Endowment, established by the AA Harvey Foundation and held at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, is designed to secure the long-term sustainability of Camp Compass for generations to come.
Founded in 2013, Camp Compass is a free summer learning program for underserved elementary students in Springfield Public Schools – District 186.
The program helps prevent summer learning loss, strengthen math and literacy skills, and provide enriching academic, social-emotional, and recreational experiences. Camp Compass is a five-week program provided at no cost to families and includes certified teachers and staff, transportation, meals, academic supplies, and field trips. With pre- and post- assessment data, the results prove that the program is successful.
By contributing to the endowment, you can help provide the dependable support that keeps Camp Compass in our community for years to come and help children grow and feel a deep sense of belonging. This permanent fund creates stability year after year, allowing the program to evolve while staying rooted in its mission.
For Chris and Debra Smith, their investment isn’t just charity; it’s a strategic partnership with an organization that values both compassion and accountability, building a stronger future for the Springfield community.
Understanding the Endowment Fund
An endowment fund is essentially a permanent savings account for a nonprofit organization. Here’s how it works:
- Principal is Invested: All gifts to the Endowment Fund are pooled together and invested. This original donation, or “principal,” remains untouched forever.
- Generates Returns: The investment earns income (interest, dividends, and appreciation).
- Income Supports the Mission: Only a small portion of the investment income is spent annually to support Compass for Kids programs. The rest of the income is reinvested to help the principal grow over time.
The result is a perpetual source of funding that supports our students year after year.
The Importance of the Endowment
While annual gifts meet the immediate, operational needs of our students today (like staff salaries and program supplies), the Endowment Fund provides the financial bedrock for tomorrow.
- Financial Stability: Provides a predictable, reliable source of income that protects the organization from unexpected fundraising challenges.
- Program Innovation: Offers the capital necessary to pilot new programs, expand into new schools, or enhance existing services like Camp Compass and Club Compass.
- Perpetuity: Ensures that the core mission of Compass for Kids, addressing the achievement gap and supporting the whole child, will continue long after the founding generation.
- A Public Trust: Demonstrates robust, long-term financial planning to our community partners, volunteers, and stakeholders.
Ways to Give Directly to the Endowment
Your contribution to the Endowment Fund is a commitment to the future that yields returns perpetually. We welcome several types of gifts:
1. Legacy and Planned Giving
These gifts ensure your generosity continues forever and often offer significant tax benefits.
- Bequests: Name Compass for Kids as a beneficiary in your Will or Trust.
- Retirement Assets: Designate the Endowment Fund as a beneficiary of your 401(k), IRA, or other qualified retirement plans.
- Life Insurance: Name the Endowment Fund as a beneficiary on a new or existing life insurance policy.
2. Assets and Securities
- Cash Contributions: Make a one-time gift to increase the principal immediately.
- Gifts of Appreciated Stock: Donate appreciated securities to receive a tax deduction for the full market value while avoiding capital gains tax.
- Real Estate: Donate residential or commercial property that can be sold to benefit the Endowment.
3. Honoring a Loved One
- Tribute Gifts: Make a gift to the Endowment Fund in memory or honor of a family member, colleague, or mentor whose values align with our mission. This creates a lasting tribute in their name.
To discuss a gift to the Endowment Fund or to request legacy planning language, please contact:
Brandy Apgar, Senior Donor Relations Manager
217-481-4651