By Henry Moore, Wealth Advisor, Regions Wealth Management
The River Region has many wonderful nonprofits that are committed to serving our community. The staff and volunteers of these nonprofits work daily to meet the needs of the individuals and families that call this region home. Our local organizations provide foundational support addressing a myriad of impact areas, such as:
- Enhancing access to education
- Helping survivors of domestic abuse
- Addressing housing insecurity
- Supporting mental health needs
- Advancing community development work
- And much more
As the demand for nonprofit services in the River Region grows, so is the competition to raise funds needed to accomplish strategic priorities. With expenses on the rise, it may be time to consider another potential source of income to support long-term needs.
Endowments.
For decades, Regions Bank has helped those who have a purpose and passion for using their resources to advance good work across our communities. Recently, the bank expanded that work by launching the Philanthropic Solutions group to provide enhanced guidance, insights and solutions through a centralized focus on helping clients through the dynamics of stewarding their investment assets and portfolio construction.
Three Keys to Growing an Endowment Fund:
1. Communications: Tell your story
Develop the message before talking to donors. Define the vision and articulate it consistently. Paint a picture of how financial support can be transformative to meeting the needs of the community.
Use the regular communication channels to share it: newsletters, emails, and social media. Consider seminars and webinars that feature experts from the nonprofit. Use stakeholders – like nonprofit staff, board members, and others to support the communication strategy.
2. Education: Introduce more giving possibilities
Consider donors who regularly support the organization and share opportunities for them to have greater impact. A long-time donor might be ready to make a major gift to an endowment that supports a specific need or staff position.
Share other planned giving strategies that can create an ongoing legacy – and may also reduce taxes. Among potential options:
- Donate an unneeded Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from a retirement account
- Designate life insurance proceeds
- Give highly appreciated securities
- Contribute land or real estate assets
3. Donor Relations: Remind them how their gifts can be transformative
All donors want to feel appreciated. Stewardship and maintaining donor intent is an important part of the donor cultivation cycle. Donors often enlist the help of financial advisors or philanthropy consultants to evaluate the effectiveness of their gifts.
Consider sharing invitations to special events, appreciation luncheons, or on-site tours. Create opportunities for your donors to engage and see the impact of their gift, introduce them to the key people in your organization, and members of your board.
Immediate and special recognition of donors is essential.
To learn more about Regions’ Philanthropic Solutions group or growing an endowment fund, visit: www.regions.com/weatlh-management.
© 2025 Regions Bank. This information is general education or marketing in nature and is not intended to be accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. Although Regions believes this information to be accurate as of the date written, it cannot ensure that it will remain up to date. Statements of individuals are their own—not Regions’. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and irs.gov for current tax rules. Investing in securities involves risk, including the risk of loss. This information should not be construed as a recommendation or suggestion as to the advisability of acquiring, holding or disposing of a particular investment, nor should it be construed as a suggestion or indication that the particular investment or investment course of action described herein is appropriate for any specific investor. In providing this communication, Regions is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity.
Investment products: are not FDIC insured, are not a deposit, may go down in value, are not bank guaranteed, are not insured by any government agency and are not a condition of any banking activity.
