Learn more about AAMB Endowment

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 Endowment & Legacy Giving

Many of the institutions we trust most—museums, universities, libraries, and cultural organizations—exist today because people decades ago chose to invest in their future.

An endowment is one of the most time-tested ways nonprofits sustain their mission over the long term.

An endowment is a pool of funds that is invested and preserved over time.
Rather than spending the full gift immediately, the organization uses a portion of the annual earnings to support its mission year after year.

This approach allows an institution to:

• Plan responsibly beyond annual fundraising cycles
   
• Weather economic changes
   
• Protect its mission for future generations
   

Endowments are not about speed, they are about stewardship.

Across the nonprofit sector, endowments have played a critical role in sustaining mission-driven organizations.

Some widely recognized facts:

• Many of the most respected museums, colleges, and cultural institutions began building their endowments 50–100+ years ago.
   
• Endowment income helps nonprofits maintain programs even during economic downturns or periods of reduced donations.
   
• Organizations with endowments are often viewed as more stable, credible, and forward-thinking by funders and partners.
   

In short:

Endowments help ensure that important museum work does not disappear when circumstances change.
 

Endowment funds are managed using a professional, layered approach designed to protect both the gift and the Museum’s mission.

• Endowment assets are managed by a professional investment firm with experience serving nonprofit and institutional clients.
   
• This firm is responsible for day-to-day investment decisions, portfolio management, and monitoring performance.
   
• Investments follow established standards focused on long-term stability, diversification, and responsible growth.
   

This ensures the Endowment is handled by experts whose sole role is financial management.

• The Museum’s Board of Directors does not manage individual investments.
   
• Instead, the Board provides fiduciary oversight, meaning it is legally and ethically responsible for ensuring that endowment funds are used appropriately and in alignment with the Museum’s mission.
   
• The Board sets high-level policies, reviews performance, and ensures accountability—without directing day-to-day investment activity.
   

This separation of roles protects the Endowment and reinforces transparency.

Each path serves a different purpose. All are deeply valued.

Endowment gifts may include:

• One-time contributions designated for long-term investment
   
• Legacy gifts made through wills, trusts, or estate plans
   
• Gifts made in honor or memory of loved ones
   

There is no single “right” way to participate. Endowment giving is personal, thoughtful, and often planned over time.

Endowments are built slowly, intentionally, and collectively.
What matters most is not the size of a single gift—but the shared belief that this work deserves to last.

When you’re ready to learn more or explore legacy giving, we welcome the conversation. Please reach out to us at info@discoveraamb.org