Self Help, Inc. Executive Director Diane Smogor, Linda Zwick, Leslie Wallstrom and Todd Urbatch celebrate establishment of a Seed Fund. Courtesy/LACF
LAAC Executive Director Brandi Engeman and David Hampton celebrate establishment of a Seed Fund. Courtesy/LACF
LACF News:
- First two “growing” funds established at Los Alamos Community Foundation
The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) recently established a process for creating seed funds that can grow over time and turn into named endowment funds.
“Our job is to help local donors fulfill their giving goals. So, when we heard from donors who wanted the option to start a fund with a smaller amount of money that could grow into an endowment, we decided to find a way to make it happen,” LACF Executive Director Liz Martineau said.
Individuals or families can start a fund to benefit a cause or organization with a small investment, and have five years to reach the $10,000 necessary to create a lasting endowment.
“For 55 years, Self-Help has been providing support and services as a bridge to self-reliance for people in Northern New Mexico,” Donor Linda Zwick said. “This Seed Fund will build an endowment to provide Self Help with a new stable funding source.”
Founding donor David Hampton said, “I am so pleased that we are now able to offer a new way to support the arts in Los Alamos County and the surrounding region. This seed fund will produce an endowment that will empower people to make a lasting contribution that will benefit the arts for generations to come.”
These two seed funds need the community’s help to grow into endowments. LACF asks people to consider a donation to the Los Alamos Community Foundation (with a note designating a specific fund) to help sustain these two important community nonprofit organizations.
All of LACF endowment funds accept donations at any time. Martineau encourages residents planning for the future to consider a lasting gift to an endowment fund with LACF.
In addition to the two new seed funds for Self Help, Inc. and Los Alamos Arts Council, LACF stewards endowment funds to benefit Family Council, Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization, Los Alamos Visiting Nurses, Los Alamos Little Theatre, Family Strengths Network, Duane Smith Auditorium and UNM-Los Alamos, and has a general Los Alamos fund that provides grants to many nonprofit organizations.
Other endowments benefit specific community interests: Judy Dudziak Endowment for Community Music Organizations, Los Alamos Community Youth Sports, Pajarito Plateau Heritage Preservation, Rosalie Heller Memorial Lecture, Paul and Susan Bombardt K-12 Music Education, Enterprise Bank & Trust Community Endowment and the Diane Warther Soran Endowment for Community Programs.
“What are your giving goals? The Los Alamos Community Foundation is here to help you reach them,” Martineau said. “We accept checks, credit cards, required minimum distributions, LANL payroll deductions, stocks, bonds and more. Learn more about giving at www.losalamoscf.org or email info@losalamoscf.org.”
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation:
Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the local quality of life by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards sixteen locally endowed funds and has total assets of over $1.5M. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation or to donate, visit www.losalamoscf.org.