Another way you can support and sustain the Mental Health Association in Delaware is through a contribution to our Endowment Fund.

Why do we have an endowment fund?
MHA created an endowment fund at the Delaware Community Foundation to provide for the long-term stability of our agency. We can either spend a portion of the interest that is earned each year or allow the interest to build up over a period of years to increase the size of the fund. In either case, our endowment fund is permanent. The initial investment that created the fund, along with the gifts that are added over the years, will always be at the Delaware Community Foundation to generate income to meet our future needs.

What is the Delaware Community Foundation and why is our fund there?
The Delaware Community Foundation was created in 1996 to provide a lasting source of income to meet community needs. It administers hundreds of charitable funds for individuals, families, organizations and businesses and awards grants to nonprofit organizations to enrich the lives of Delawareans. The Delaware Community Foundation has close to $130 million in assets.

• Our endowment fund benefits from the Foundation’s investment expertise and from being part of a large portfolio.
• The DCF handles all administrative, as well as investment responsibilities for our fund, freeing our staff to concentrate on our mission.
• The DCF employs gift planning professionals who will help our donors make current and deferred gifts to our endowment fund.

How can donors contribute to our endowment fund?
Our endowment fund at the Delaware Community Foundation gives donors – some of whom already support current operations and programs – the opportunity to provide for the future needs of MHA. There are many types of gifts and giving vehicles that provide donors with the maximum tax and financial benefits. They include:

• A gift of non-cash assets, including appreciated stock, retirement plan assets and life insurance.
• A bequest, which is a deferred gift given through a donor’s will.
• A life income gift, which allows a donor to make a charitable gift and also receive a stream of income for life. The two most common types of life income gifts are charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.
• A charitable lead trust, which helps a donor reduce gift and estate taxes when passing assets on to heirs. Trust income is paid to charity annually for a period of years; at the end of the term, the trust principal passes to family members.

How can donors learn more about contributing to our endowment fund?
Please call Roberta Fishgold, Development Manager, at (302) 654-6833 or email at rfishgold@mhainde.org to discuss other gift options, such as gifts of stock or planned giving opportunities. You may also contact the The Delaware Community Foundation.