Clark County Master Gardener Endowment
Frequently Asked Questions
Clark County Master Gardener Endowment
What is an endowment? Our endowment is a sum of donated money deposited with the WSU Foundation. In turn, WSU invests the money and each year, distributes a portion (usually four percent of the principal amount) to the Clark County Master Gardener Program. WSU also takes a portion (usually one and a half percent) of the amount deposited as a fee for managing the account. The remaining income is reinvested.
In the event that the principal amount falls below the amount contributed, distributions from the Endowment will be suspended until such time as the principal equals or exceeds the amount donated.
Why an Endowment for the Clark County Master Gardener Program? The Endowment provides a source of income specifically designated for the Master Gardener Program of Clark County. This dedicated source of income will be used to augment the current Master Gardener Program funding sources of state and county funding along with grants from the Master Gardener Foundation of Clark County. While these traditional funding sources are not expected to disappear, they can fluctuate from year to year. The Endowment will help bridge any shortfalls in lean years and help expand the Program’s services in normal years. The Endowment has the potential to grow large enough to provide independent funding to the Master Gardener Program thus ensuring its perpetual existence.
How do the Clark County Master Gardener Endowment, the Master Gardener Foundation of Clark County, and the Clark County Master Gardener Program relate to each other?
- The Clark County Master Gardener (CCMG) Endowment’s only purpose is to support the CCMG Program.
- The MG Foundation is a public, non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, whose purpose is to support the CCMG Program as well as provide horticultural education to the citizens of Clark County.
- The CCMG Program is a WSU Extension Service providing horticultural education and assistance to the citizens of Clark County.
- Quite simply, both the MG Foundation and the CCMG Endowment have been established to provide support for the CCMG Program.
Why do we have both the CCMG Endowment and the MG Foundation? These two entities provide different sources of funding for the CCMG Program.
The Endowment’s sole purpose is to support the MG Program and that support is perpetual. The Endowment principal began with, and is continually increased by donations from the Foundation, private individuals, and businesses.
The Foundation has a broader purpose. In addition to providing annual support to the Program, it also provides horticultural education to the citizens of Clark County by awarding scholarships to horticultural students, offering adult horticultural classes, sponsoring youth gardening projects, and sponsoring demonstration gardens.
Who decides how the proceeds from the endowment will be spent? Those decisions are made in Clark County by the Director of the Clark County Extension Program, currently Doug Stienbarger, or his/her designee.
Why establish an Endowment at this time? An endowment does have a beginning; but it has no end – it is perpetual. We began now because the MG Foundation had funds available to provide a significant contribution and because the Master Gardeners saw a need for an additional, stable funding source and were willing to contribute toward the establishment of an endowment. The best time to begin any endeavor is now! While the economy is weak right now, remember the CCMG Endowment is perpetual. This is the strength of the Endowment – it will be here in both good and bad economic times!
Who can contribute to the CCMG Endowment? Anyone can contribute.
How do I give? Make your check payable to “WSU Foundation”. In the memo section write CCMG Endowment, Account #7246-4432, and mail it to:
CAHNRS & WSU Extension Office of Alumni and Friends
PO Box 646228
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6228
To use your credit card:
Go to the top of this page and click on “Contribute Online”. Now all you have to do is fill in the amount (from $1 to many $$), click “continue” and WSU will lead you through submitting your credit card information. You’ll receive an almost instant message from WSU thanking you for your contribution!