Understanding Endowments

An endowment is a fund established to provide long-term financial support for a specific cause or organization. The principal is permanently invested, and only a portion of the earnings—typically around 4% annually—is used to support charitable purposes, according to the donor's wishes. This allows the fund to grow over time and continue generating support indefinitely.

Creating Your Legacy

Endowments create a legacy. Whether it's a scholarship, a grant for a nonprofit, or support for an unmet community need, an endowment ensures that your giving continues year after year. You don't need to be wealthy to start one—many donors contribute because they're passionate about their community or a specific cause.

Professional Investment Management

When a donor creates an endowment with the Adams County Community Foundation, their gift is carefully invested and stewarded in partnership with the Scioto Foundation, which manages more than $64 million in assets. To ensure efficiency and performance, endowment funds are pooled for investment purposes—but each fund is individually tracked and governed by a legal agreement that honors the donor's specific intentions.

Endowment assets are managed by three professional investment firms under the oversight of the Scioto Foundation's Investment Committee. The strategy follows a disciplined total return approach, which seeks to grow the fund through interest, dividends, and market gains while maintaining long-term sustainability.

Long-Term Sustainability

The primary objective is to provide steady, annual distributions for charitable purpose while preserving the fund's long-term value against inflation and market volatility. With over five decades of experience, the Scioto Foundation's proven investment management offers donors a lasting and reliable way to support the future of Adams County.