August 2010 President’s Message
Foundation Creates Endowment Fund “Leave Your Own Legacy”
The Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation and the Missouri Retired Teachers Association wants to thank all of those many MRTA members for their continued support in making contributions to pay for our new office facility.
It is no secret that the longer we are paying for the building the more interest we will pay. This makes it imperative that we continue asking for assistance. We must continue to seek new resources to keep serving our members.
While (75%) seventy-five percent of people give to charity during their life time only six percent (6%) leave a gift to a nonprofit organization in their estates. There are two major reasons: most people don’t think of the possibility and they don’t realize the benefits to not-for-profit organizations.
At the time that MRTA is celebrating 50 years of service to the educational retirees, MRTF is excited to announce the first contribution and the establishment of an endowment fund. It is my hope that this gift will inspire others to do the same thing.
Simply speaking, an endowment is a fund that is made up of gifts and bequests that are subject to the requirement that the principal is maintained intact and invested to create a source of income for an organization. Donors may set up an endowment to fund a specific interest; or a not-for-profit governing body may set up an endowment. In either case, an endowment requires that the principal remains in tact in perpetuity, or for a defined period of time or until sufficient assets have been accumulated to achieve a designated purpose. The practice of investing the principal rather than to spend it allows an endowment to grow over time.
Charitable giving is an American tradition, perhaps more than any where in the world. Today there are more than 1.5 million charities that do their work here in the US and across the globe.
We would like to encourage you to explore the opportunities you have to “Leave a Legacy.” MRTA’s work is so important to every educational retiree. It is very simple, your tax deductible gift to our MRTF Endowment Fund will benefit you immediately, and create an endless gift to keep our MRTA services around for you, as well as our future retirees.
There are many advantages to giving to MRTF. Yes, it will make you feel good, but it will also provide you an immediate tax deduction.
With the creation of the MRTF Endowment Fund, we have provided our membership an opportunity for “giving back.” Please consider placing a bequeath to the MRTF in your will or trust.
Endowments are permanent and personal; it is a gift, a way for you to provide endless support to a charitable cause. Your expression of philanthropy is an investment for the future of MRTA.
The Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation (MRTF) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) not for-profit corporation devoted to raising funds to carry out certain charitable, educational, scientific, and literary purposes of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association (MRTA).
Jane Fullerton, President
Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation