Start a Fund

Parishes, individuals, families, agencies and schools can create an endowment fund. The following are the basic policies and guidelines governing participation in the Foundation:

• Any Diocesan organization or parish may establish an endowment in the Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Michigan with a minimum initial contribution of $5,000 with distribution of earnings beginning one year after funding, per the Foundation’s Distribution Policy.
• An individual named fund may be established with a minimum initial contribution of $5,000. 
• Donors may add any amount to existing endowment funds within the Foundation.
• All assets placed in an endowment fund are held in trust by the Foundation and are no longer available for use by the donating individual or organization. Distributions of earnings on the assets are governed by the Foundation’s Distribution Policy.
• There are two stages to establish an endowment: the first, initial preparation involves preliminary contact by the donor or organization with the finance and development offices of the Diocese and a discussion of fund purposes(s) and ongoing operations. The second, formal application includes completion of establishing documents by the donor or organization. Members of the Foundation Advisory Board review the application and the trustees of the Foundation vote on approval.
• Endowment fund agreements for organizations other than parishes must specify what happens to the earnings should the benefiting organization or ministry cease to exist or operate.
• The Foundation’s funds are invested with the Michigan Catholic Conference’s Socially Responsible Investment Pool, which allows Michigan dioceses and related organizations to pool funds for investment in the fixed income and equity markets using socially responsible investment guidelines, minimizing portfolio expenses and optimizing returns.
• The Foundation will consider gifts such as cash, securities, art, collectibles and other marketable assets; unusual gifts may require review before acceptance.