Nicknamed ‘Miss Blues’ at the age of six, Dorothy Ellis earned herself a place in the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame and the moniker, ‘Oklahoma’s First Lady of Blues.’ She left a generous gift in her will to ensure her influence in our state’s music history lives on. After her death in 2018, the sale of her house created a charitable endowment at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to permanently support the Oklahoma Historical Society’s African American and music historical programming and exhibits.  Read more about Miss Blues and the benefits of our Charitable Organization Endowment program below!

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A Season for Sharing: The Benefits of Charitable Organization Endowment Funds by Joe Carter, Oklahoma City Community Foundation Vice President of Development

It’s a busy time of year at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation! Each fall, the charitable organizations that have endowment funds with us receive investment distributions from their funds. This year, we’ll distribute a total of $9 million to 370 organizations! This guaranteed annual support can be vital for an organization experiencing a tough year. Often, the organizations themselves establish these valuable funds. However, charitable organization endowments may also be established by donors looking to support their favorite nonprofit.

Here are some benefits that might appeal to your clients:

I’ve previously mentioned how beneficial donor advised funds can be for clients who wish to leave a sizable estate gift. However, many donors would love the opportunity for others to join them in their philanthropy. In this case, a donor can establish a charitable organization endowment fund on behalf of a charity, allowing others to make gifts to the fund. The fund is invested with others funds and a percentage is returned each year to the organization. Sometimes, an organization may already have an endowment fund, in which case an individual can establish a sub-fund to support a particular program associated with the charity.

Another great benefit of establishing a charitable organization endowment fund is the assurance of sustainability. Because a charitable organization endowment fund is permanently invested, only a percentage is returned to the organization each year and can be earmarked for a specific program within the organization. This ensures the donor’s gift will support their interests within an organization in perpetuity.

This quick video explains the importance of charitable endowment funds. Please feel free to contact me at 405/606-2914 if you have any questions. I’m here to help!

Are you an estate planning professional looking to increase your knowledge to better serve your clients? Check out this free luncheon hosted through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and the Cannon Financial Institute!

October 22 Unmaking Messes Register here .

November 5 Estate Planning for Professionals Registration opens October 22.

Registration for each event will open online following the prior month's teleconference.

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