The Endowment Handbook - by Laura MacDonald (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Interest in endowments is soaring, as nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, universities, and others seek to leverage the enormous transfer of wealth from generations that demonstrated high levels of philanthropy and civic engagement. This will be an essential resource for those with an interest in starting a new endowment or building up an existing fund: nonprofit executives, foundation managers, donors, etc. The content will be especially relevant for community foundations where organizational endowments are frequently held. It will become a standard reference book, sought by development professionals in medium and large nonprofit organizations who have been tasked with endowment building for their institution. A secondary audience will include donors who are asked to make gifts to endowments, trustees of private and family foundations, and educators who teach about philanthropy and fundraising at educational institutions or for professional development. The topic has perennial appeal yet much has changed and is changing: NextGen donors may prefer the flexibility of strategic reserves over the constraints on endowed funds; market fluctuations call investment strategies into question; and existential threats undermine the premise of "perpetuity." A quick scan of recent publications suggests that there has not been a comprehensive overview of endowments published since the changes brought about by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the pandemic, and calls for social change. These have caused dramatic shifts: in donor behavior, market performance, and society's perceptions (good and bad) of endowed funds. A new publication will reflect these changes and provide examples for attracting new kinds of assets like Cryptocurrency when building endowments. This book lends itself to use as a textbook--whether in "Endowment Building Institutes," an academic setting, or for board members or an AFP chapter"--

Book Synopsis

Up-to-date reference on building endowment, reserves, and enduring relationships in the modern world

The Endowment Handbook is a comprehensive overview of endowments and reserves, covering key changes brought about by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the pandemic, and calls for social change which have caused dramatic shifts in donor behavior, market performance, and society's perceptions (good and bad) of endowed funds and the rising popularity of strategic reserves. This new publication reflects these changes and provides examples for attracting new kinds of assets like Cryptocurrency and building relationships that will sustain a cause for the future.

Written by Laura MacDonald, Principal and Founder of Benefactor Group and frequent speaker at local, regional, and national conferences, Endowment Handbook covers every aspect of endowments and reserves from preplanning, to identifying, cultivating, and establishing prospective donors, all the way to marketing and measuring success. In this book, you'll learn about:

• Technical information describing endowments, balanced with some of the emerging critiques of endowments and growing preferences for strategic reserves
• Effective messaging strategies for endowment funds, such as the "follow-the-leader" effect and citing "donor agency"
• Use of data screening and AI tools, social media outreach, and behavioral research to increase donor engagement

As interest in financial sustainability continues to grow, The Endowment Handbook is an essential resource for nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, universities, and others seeking to leverage the enormous transfer of wealth from generations demonstrating high levels of philanthropy and civic engagement.

From the Back Cover

Praise for THE Endowment HANDBOOK

"The Endowment Handbook is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the nonprofit sector. The author's expertise and practical advice offer a roadmap for building financial resilience and fostering strong, lasting relationships with donors."
-- Bernice Martin Lee, CEO, Epilepsy Foundation of America

"This book is a practical guide that will empower nonprofits to thrive in an increasingly dynamic charitable landscape. Every nonprofit leader should have this book on their desk."
-- Nathan Chappell, Co-author of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges

"Drawing deeply upon her decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and philanthropy, Laura MacDonald has provided a timely and in-depth resource for nonprofit professionals, board members, and donors that will provide a practical guide to strengthening the organizations that serve the common good."
-- Una Osili, PhD, Associate Dean for Research and International Programs, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University

"In The Endowment Handbook, readers will see what all of us in the sector have come to expect: thoughtful consideration, practical application, and commitment to lasting impact for nonprofits. Laura has made endowments accessible to all nonprofits looking to achieve long-term sustainability and impact in our communities."
-- Josh Birkholz, CEO of BWF and author of Fundraising Analytics and BeneFactors

About the Author

LAURA MACDONALD is the Principal and Founder of Benefactor Group, a consulting firm that works with nonprofit organizations to help them connect with donors, strengthen their leadership, provide campaign coaching and management, and more. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a frequent speaker at numerous local, regional, and national conferences.