March 2018 – Article 2:
The leadership of Georgia Right to Life was quite pleased and grateful when in 2016, a longtime and generous donor approached the leadership with the notion of establishing an endowment fund and “seeding” that fund.
As with most non-profits, income variability throughout the year can help or hamper our outreach programs. The goal of the endowment fund is to create long term, sustained income for the educational programs of Georgia Right to Life (GRTL).
An endowment fund allows donors so inclined to contribute to the future work of our organization by building up the fund to a level where it produces income from interest earnings. That income can then be used to help fund our efforts, without disturbing or depleting the fund itself.
Many educational institutions, such as colleges and universities, rely on endowment funds to underwrite student scholarships, establish additional academic departments, endowed professorships, and much more.
According to Ricardo Davis, President of Georgia Right to Life, “As we at GRTL plan to expand our educational programs, the GRTL ETF Endowment is key to long-term funding of our state-wide efforts to change hearts and minds to choose life.”
Upwards of 80% of the annual Georgia Right to Life budget is dedicated to the educational outreaches of the organization. We are and will remain primarily an educational organization, teaching our fellow Georgians why innocent human life must be respected and protected and working to accomplish these objectives.
Trained volunteers and staff conduct Outreaches:
- on college campuses and at other schools
- at churches and church conferences
- with civic groups such as Rotary and Optimist clubs
- at political conventions (staffing tables and booths in the exhibit areas)
- at county and state fairs
- at home school conferences
- at employee “fairs” where the employee can learn about human development and the sanctity of life while signing up to contribute to GRTL via payroll deductions
Further outreach involves:
- radio interviews of staff and board members
- articles written on current issues related to the preservation of life
- newsletters to membership
- GRTL chapter outreach activities in communities around the state
Three trustees from among GRTL friends were selected to identify an investment house to manage the endowment fund, to receive and review annual performance reports, and to annually report to the GRTL Board. Currently serving as trustees are Robert Bailey, Eric Swartz, and Greg Winchester.
As of February 1st this year, the GRTL ETF Endowment Fund has $30,000 invested with SJS Investments Consulting.
In comments on the importance of the Endowment Fund, Greg Winchester, remarked:
“The GRTL ETF Endowment Fund will allow donors who wish to include GRTL in their planned giving strategy a new alternative way to be generous. In addition to providing long term sustainable income to GRTL, it will give donors the ability to leave a never- ending legacy of generosity to the cause for life.”
Those who desire further information about the Endowment Fund, how to contribute, or make bequests, gifts from appreciated stocks, or other financial arrangements and gifts, are asked to contact Steve Bowman at 770-339-6880.
By Steve Bowman
Director of Development
Georgia Right to Life