General Endowment Fund (Unrestricted)
We always welcome and encourage charitable gifts to the general endowment fund. The General Endowment is critical to sustaining the mission and affiliate ministries of Lutheran Homes Society in the future. Your gifts to this fund will provide the necessary flexibility and financial resources to underwrite our affiliate ministries so they can address the changing needs of the children, youth, and the many older adults in our care. Indeed, your gift will continue in perpetuity and the impact of your original gift will grow over time.
The general endowment, as well as all restricted endowment funds, is managed by the investment committee of the LHS Foundation Board. The Foundation Board is responsible for determining investment and spending policies, as well as providing continuing oversight of the investment portfolios and asst allocation strategies while managing risk to preserve and grow the principal over time, thereby assuring a stable but growing endowment.
Each year, LHS Foundation Board distributes 5% of the fair market value of the fund as averaged over the prior three years. This approach further lessens the impact of annual market volatility while providing more stable funding of LHS programs and services. The general endowment is funded directly through donor-designated gifts and through Board designation of a specific percentage of any undesignated gift or bequest received above $5,000.
Restricted Endowment Funds
Several restricted endowed funds exist and are listed and described more fully above according to their purpose, namely, whether they support youth, elderly, staff, or the larger LHS organization. These include:
- Celia & Jim Findlay Endowment for Youth
- Youth Assistance Endowment
- Florence S. & Arnold F. Bunge Sr. Endowed Scholarship Fund
- Lawrence & Adele Youngbauer Youth Endowment
- R.A. & F.D. Stranahan Endowment
- LINCS Endowment