Endowment

What is the St. Francis School Endowment Fund?

A healthy endowment is the key to the future strength and success of St. Francis School’s mission to provide an exceptional Catholic education to our students. The St. Francis School Endowment Fund is invested with Fries Financial Group out of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin who work in coordination with Raymond James investment advisors. The Endowment Fund is set up in perpetuity under the direction of the St. Francis Parish Endowment Board which currently consists of five members of the parish, including two members from the Parish Finance Council and the Pastor. The current members of the Endowment Board are Rosemary Matzek, Pete Huppert, Jens Loberg, Jeff Zander, Scott Henning and Father David Olson.

How Does the St. Francis School Endowment Fund Work?

A gift to the St. Francis School Endowment Fund ensures that generations of students to come can experience what it means to be a part of the St. Francis School community. Endowed gifts are invested. The guidelines for investment are to invest 65% in stocks and 35% in bonds following Catholic ethical investments. The principal funds are not spent and ensure indefinite support for St. Francis School. A portion of the annual income from the investment is used each year to support St. Francis School programs. The Endowment Board annually determines the distribution amounts from the endowment at the end of July. The Board has set a limit of no more than 4% of the value of the endowment to be taken as income. If income is more than 4% then the income over 4% will be reinvested to allow for growth. If income is less than 4% then the Board will make a distribution of less than 4%.  

How to Donate to the St. Francis School Endowment Fund

Donating to the St. Francis School Endowment Fund is easy. Anyone can add to the Endowment Fund at any time, in any amount. St. Francis School can accept gifts of cash or securities, outright or deferred. Examples of gifts include gifts of cash or check, bequests by will, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of real estate or property, stock gifts, beneficiary designations of retirement plans, commercial annuities, and life insurance policies, qualified charitable distributions, and charitable gift annuities. Endowed gifts of $1,000 or greater secure your membership in the St. Francis School Legacy Society. If you would like more information about making a gift to the Endowment Fund now or in the future, please contact Amy Loberg, Director of Advancement, at 715-273-4391 or [email protected].

The Lasting Impact of Your Endowment Gift

How Does an Endowed Gift Differ from Annual Giving?

Endowed gifts are invested. A portion of the annual income from the investment is used each year to support school programs. The principal funds are not spent and ensure indefinite support for St. Francis School. Annual Vision Fund gifts, by contrast, are spent in the same year given and are used entirely to support the operating budget of St. Francis School.

View our Vision Fund versus Endowment Fund handout here.