Endowment Giving
Michigan FFA Glassbrook Endowment Fund (A17591)
Giving to an endowment, or creating one, is an excellent way to impact the quality of the leadership mission that FFA promotes and develops in its members, now, and for generations to come. While all gifts to the Michigan FFA Foundation support the FFA mission, endowments are particularly meaningful as they offer a dependable, perpetual source of funding.
The Michigan FFA Foundation board has prioritized building this endowment fund. Currently valued at over $5 million, this endowment is the long-term lifeline of Michigan FFA. Each dollar that is given to the endowment is invested and earnings from this fund go directly to the Michigan FFA Association. In time, interest from the endowment will be used to provide complete financial security for existing FFA programs, program expansion and to create K-12 agriculture and natural resource educational programs which will lead young people into FFA and agriscience programs.
Supported by the Michigan FFA Foundation
The agriculture and natural resources industry is the 2nd largest segment of Michigan’s economy contributing over 37 billion dollars annually. As the state’s 2nd largest employer, over 1 million citizens find jobs in the production, distribution and processing of food and agricultural products.
The Glassbrook Endowment seeks to provide every Michigan citizen a basic understanding of the food, fiber and natural resources segment of our economy. In addition to training youth for jobs, the endowment will enhance the academic preparation of every student by providing educational experiences related to leadership development, problem solving and decision making.
Our Commitment
Provide for the development and implementation of educational experiences for K-12 students about the importance of agriculture and natural resources to the Michigan economy and way of life.
- Develop a K-12 curriculum which will expose all students to the food and fiber industries
- Provide agriculture and natural resources education pre-service and in-service programs for instructors and volunteers to enhance academic preparation of each student
- Develop a vehicle for the industry to support classroom education through tours, guest speakers and related activities
Provide for career development
- Create local models for career awareness experiences for K-12 students
- Provide mentors, cooperative work experiences, job shadowing and career preparation with business and industry cooperation
Equip young people with leadership skills to meet industry and community needs.
- Develop lessons for use in high school government and social studies classes about real life issues and decision making about agriculture and natural resources policy
- Expand FFA program activities as a way to develop lifelong leadership skills
- Provide access to FFA career and leadership development programs to 9-12 students
The programs outlined above will be delivered through a partnership involving business, state agencies, public universities and local school districts along with agriculture and natural resource related organizations. The FFA Foundation Board has raised more than one million dollars for the endowment. The FFA Foundation is an advisory fundraising group of Michigan State University and as such is eligible for all tax benefits for gifts under MSU guidelines. The State of Michigan and private donors and organizations have made initial funding possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can contribute to an endowment through:
- Cash or Checks indicating an allocation code or a name of an endowment
- You can give any funds in your retirement account, IRA, 401K OR 401 (b)
- You can give gifts of stock
- You can give a charitable bequest or even a portion of your estate
- Please contact the Michigan FFA Foundation at 517-355-0284 for more information or to give in any of these ways
It’s easy to establish and endowment with the Michigan FFA Foundation.
- Endowed funds may be created with a minimum of $50,000 payable over five years, or through a future gift (a bequest) from your estate.
- Development staff will work with you to establish guidelines for your endowment to assure that your wishes and the needs of FFA are simultaneously met. These guidelines can be personalized to recognize the unique interests and intent of each gift, as well as create the opportunity to name the endowment after you, in honor of your family, or in memory of someone special.
- Once an endowment is established, a portion of the investment income, currently 5%, is available for spending, while the remainder is added to the fund’s market value to grow the fund over time and safeguard against inflation.
- With your gift or pledge to create an endowment, you will automatically be eligible for recognition in Michigan State University and Michigan FFA donor societies.
Imagine making a contribution that leaves a legacy to the Michigan FFA for generations to come. This lasting impact can easily be made through the establishment of an endowment. Endowments enable the FFA to support excellent advisers, career development, leadership training and program success by providing a steady, consistent and permanent source of income. This steady stream of funding provides the assurance the FFA needs to recruit and retain the best and brightest members and advisers, and provide access to FFA programming across the state.
Endowed funds are unlike funds that are immediately expendable, in that the gift is invested. Each year, only a portion of the income earned from the investment is spent while the remainder adds to the principal growth. In this respect, an endowment is a perpetual gift. Endowments are absolutely essential if we are to remain leaders in agricultural education. It is a great way to link your legacy with our future….forever.