Six for 60

An Organization Endowment Fund is a pool of dollars that is invested to produce a stable, predictable stream of income each year to support a charitable cause.

With an Organization Endowment Fund, the initial gift is invested over time, while a percentage of the fund’s balance (currently 4.75% of a 20-quarter rolling average) is granted back to the organization annually to support its mission.

Organizations may choose to forgo the grant distribution in any year to allow for more endowment growth. Over time, the fund balance and annual grant distribution grow through market performance and additional gifts made to the Organization Endowment Fund.

Stability is the main reason any nonprofit should have an Organization Endowment Fund. While some nonprofits may only think about their current fiscal year or next payroll, it is crucial to plan for long-term sustainability. An Organization Endowment Fund helps diversify an organization's income and reduces its dependency on annual campaigns, fundraisers and special events. Having an Organization Endowment Fund also sends a strong message to donors that your organization plans on being around for a long time.

An organization’s endowment fund at Stark Community Foundation is pooled with more than 900 Endowment Funds at the Foundation, 250 of which have been established by different organizations in our community. Being part of a large, diversified investment portfolio (currently valued at nearly $350 million) gives you more purchasing power, allowing you to reap the benefits of a maximum return while minimizing risk.

Stark Community Foundation takes care of professionally managing and growing your investments and handles all the administrative details, so your organization can focus more on your mission.

The benefits of an Organization Endowment Fund through Stark Community Foundation include long-term financial security, prudent investment management, flexible giving options, maximum return with minimal risk, planned giving resources and administrative support.

Organizations located within Stark County that do not already have an established Organization Endowment Fund with Stark Community Foundation are eligible to apply if they are recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity, church, school or government entity, and their main address is located within Stark County.

Unfortunately, no. This challenge is only open to organizations that do not already have an Organization Endowment Fund with the Foundation. We would love for you to be involved with the initiative by voting as a community member to support other nonprofits in our community.

If you are an organization interested in being considered for this challenge, you can apply at starkcf.org/sixfor60 through June 30, 2023.

At the end of the voting period, the organization in each category with the highest number of votes will receive $10,000 in seed money to establish an Organization Endowment Fund through Stark Community Foundation.

Anyone with a valid email address can vote once a day for their nonprofit of choice during the voting period.

Organizations will be notified by email of their eligibility status before community voting begins in July.

Encourage people to vote for your organization by promoting the challenge through social media, email communications or other personal outreach. Sample messaging and additional marketing and promotional resources will be provided closer to when community voting begins.

Community members can vote once each day for their nonprofit of choice on the voting page. To verify your vote each day, you must confirm through the email sent to your email address.

If you are an organization interested in being considered for this challenge, you can apply at starkcf.org/sixfor60app through June 30, 2023. If you are a community member, you can vote for your nonprofit of choice on the voting page once each day during the voting period, which starts in July.

You will work directly with Bridgette L. Neisel, vice president of advancement, to execute a simple fund agreement on behalf of your organization.

Contact Bridgette L. Neisel, vice president of advancement, at 330-454-7992 or bneisel@starkcf.org if you have any questions about the Six for 60: Endowment Fund Challenge.