Storytelling: How We Established the Colonel Lynn B. Stull Memorial Army ROTC Endowment

My first experience with the endowment style of philanthropy occurred when I helped establish the Colonel Lynn B. Stull Memorial Army ROTC Endowment at Georgia State University.

Context for the Story

From May 2013 to May 2015, my assignment in the Army was to serve as the Professor of Military Science and Department Chair at the Georgia State University Army ROTC program.

Army ROTC is a program designed for college Students who are interested in becoming officers (management) in the Army. In addition to those college courses needed to earn their degree, these Student-Cadets  enroll and participate in a comprehensive leader development program that includes:  military science academics, physical fitness training, on-campus and off-campus leader development training during the school year, and a broad number of leader development experiences during the summer (leader development camp, Airborne school, international cultural internships, etc.).  The Army ROTC leader development program parallels the requirements of the Students’ bachelor’s degrees, so that when they arrive at graduation from the college or university, they have also completed the Army ROTC program and are commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.  It really is the best leader development program in the world.

There are 275 Professors of Military Science across the country that administer the Army ROTC program at 275 of our nation’s largest colleges and universities.

Prior to putting an officer into a mid-level organizational leadership position like this, the Army will send them to what is known as a ‘pre-command course’.  This is a two week course designed to provide the incoming Professors of Military Science much of the information needed to be successful in the position.

The Idea

Areas of significant emphasis during my pre-command course included:  1) establishing / improving / maintaining a strong and positive relationship with the host institution, and 2) improving the organization during your tenure.  One of the instructors suggested that establishing an Army ROTC endowment would be a way of achieving both of these objectives, if an Army ROTC endowment did not already exist.

When I got back to campus, I asked my Team if an Army ROTC endowment was established through Georgia State University’s foundation, and discovered that one did not exist.  So at that time, I made a mental note and put it in the back of my mind, as I had more pressing matters to deal with that were directly related to our mission (taking care of and training our Student-Cadets).

The Idea Turns Into Discussion

In early October of 2013, I discovered an alumnus from the 1960s in the department area, perusing the historical pictures of the program on the wall.  This is common:  when on campus, Army ROTC alumni will stop by the department, reminisce, and talk with the faculty and Student-Cadets.  

So this alumnus was in the building looking at the photos on the walls, I walked by, we acknowledged each other, introduced ourselves, exchanged greetings, and began to chat.  In addition to telling him about our leader development program and about our Student-Cadets, I mentioned that I was interested at some point in helping to create an endowment for the Army ROTC program.

This alumnus mentioned that the issue of an Army ROTC endowment had been discussed several times but it had never come together.

We both agreed that an Army ROTC endowment would be a very worthwhile project (even though I was not completely sure what an endowment was at the time), and he mentioned that he would bring the issue back up with his circle of fellow Army ROTC alumni to see if there was still interest.

A couple of days later, I received a call from the development (fundraising) officer in the College of Arts and Sciences (this is the college under which the department of Military Science falls at Georgia State).

The development officer informed me that she had been contacted by a distinguished alumnus, who had served in Army ROTC, and who was interested in talking about an Army ROTC endowment.  The development officer asked:  would I be willing to host a lunch with this alumnus, a few of his associates, two development officers, and a few Army ROTC faculty?  The development office would cater the event.  Of course, I agreed and the appointment was made.

What had happened behind the scenes is the alumnus with whom I spoke was still in contact with several other Army ROTC alumni; they had remained close through the years through a social group.  This alumnus had gone back and spoken to a few of his associates and they had decided because the department’s leader (me) was interested in pursuing in an Army ROTC endowment, now was the time to try to put one together.

During this lunch (and throughout the whole process of establishing this endowment), I was an Army officer operating in an official capacity, so I obviously could not (and did not) do any asking for money.  Instead, my job was to smile, shake hands, and talk about the Army ROTC program, what we were doing, and what we could do with additional funds.

At lunch, the development officers played the lead role, talking about how the endowment would come together and what we could expect.  The alumni listened and ate and nodded their heads.

It quickly became clear that the distinguished alumnus who called the meeting was in charge of that side of the table.  His presence was modest and humble, yet commanding; you could tell that he was a senior executive with a great deal of business experience.  He said something to the effect that we can definitely make this happen, and that he was excited about completing this project.

After lunch, I spoke with the development officers, and they said that the distinguished alumnus’s comments were very, very positive and affirmational; that he had a track record at the University for successfully putting endowments together; and that it sounded to them like he was going to do his part to make this happen.  It was then that I discovered there is a subtle language in fundraising that I have to master.

Discussion Turns Into Action

After lunch, the development officers went back and constructed the endowment agreement.  As the administrative parts of the endowment started to fall into place, the focus of efforts transitioned to fundraising.

It was at this point that the lead development officer came to see me.  As the department chair, I had to sign the documents to establish the endowment.  

I remember that appointment very well.  There, in my office, I was sitting at my big boss chair, and across my big boss desk sat the development officer.  I had a very nice office in this assignment, with the desk area intentionally designed to create a psychological dynamic that made visitors feel like I was in charge.

So here I am, reviewing, approving, and signing documents like any big boss does.  Upon signing the endowment agreement, I passed the paperwork back to the development officer and asked “what else?” (my way of suggesting that we are concluding our appointment).

It was then that the entire tone in the room changed.  The development officer took control of the situation; there are no two ways about this.  She said something to the effect of:  thank you for signing the paperwork to get the endowment started; now that you’ve gone ahead and helped to establish the endowment, are you going to contribute to it?

Of course I said yes.  Right then and there, fully prepared, she pulled a contribution form out of her binder, slid it across the table, grinned at me slyly, and said, “Would you like to do that now?”

What choice did I have?  She had me right where she wanted me.  Checkmate.  I was terribly impressed.

I remember her being so smooth and polite, yet cunning and cut throat at the same time when she so expertly transitioned from helping me navigate the endowment paperwork to asking for my contribution.  I was and still am in awe.

I also learned a very important lesson during that engagement:  if I was going to pursue charity, if I am going to really try to be a philanthropist, then I must be prepared to commit my own personal funds in addition to contributing my time, physical, and intellectual effort.  If I want to be a philanthropist; I have to be (financial) giver too.

Along with my contribution, the development officer obtained several other contributions.  The distinguished alumnus pledged $12,500, half of our initial goal of $25,000.  She reached out to other Army ROTC alumni, to friends of Georgia State and its Army ROTC program, to any and all stakeholders and supporters, and in eight months, ended up raising more than about $26,000.

So in early July 2014, we had $26,000 endowed in the foundation’s investment account, generating the interest, dividends and capital gains.  At this point ($26,000), the endowment would throw off about a $1,000 to support Army ROTC, year in and year out, forever.

For me, it was very exciting to be a part of bringing that kind of enduring support to the Army ROTC program.

The next step was to name the endowment.  During this time the endowment was being created, one of the distinguished alumnus’s fellow alumnus, Colonel Lynn B. Stull, passed away.  It was obvious that Colonel Stull meant a great deal to the distinguished alumnus, as he got choked up every time he spoke of Colonel Stull.  When the distinguished alumnus recommended that we name the endowment after Colonel Stull, we all agreed.  This is how the endowment was named the Colonel Lynn B. Stull Memorial Army ROTC Endowment.

Finally, we thought it appropriate to celebrate our victory with an endowment dedication ceremony.  The distinguished alumnus had a memorial plaque created for Colonel Stull, and we decided upon Veterans’ Day to conduct the dedication ceremony.

The ceremony was conducted at the College of Arts and Sciences.  All of our Student-Cadets attended, along with the Stull family and several other guests.  The ceremony was brief but meaningful; the Dean spoke, I spoke, the distinguished alumnus spoke, and then we revealed the memorial plaque.  Also, as I concluded my remarks, I presented (by surprise) the distinguished alumnus with the U.S. Army Commander’s Award for Public Service.  It was a very nice ceremony, which I feel celebrated our accomplishment and honored Colonel Stull.  There was also food and drink there, which is never a bad idea when you have college Students attending.

Once the ceremony was completed, the plaque was mounted in the entry way at the department; the $26,000 is endowed and generating dividends, interest, and capital gains; and the development officer is back out there cultivating new donors and stewarding existing ones in an effort to grow the endowment.

Conclusion

This is how we established the Colonel Lynn B. Stull Memorial Army ROTC Endowment; an accomplishment that I am very proud of, because in about a year and a half, we took an idea and transformed it into a $26,000 endowment that is going to provide about a $1,000 of support to the Georgia State University Army ROTC program every year, year in and year out, forever.

Additionally, this is where I saw for the first time how the mechanics of an endowment went together; not just how an endowment is created and how the investment piece works, but also how an endowment is formed from an idea into a discussion, then to a plan, and then to execution through enthusiastic fundraising.

Not only was this experience very exciting to be a part of, but it was also definitely one of the key inspirational events for my founding of The Enduring Charity Foundation, where we have since endowed more than $26,000 of our own among seven endowments, with two more endowments in the process of creation.

As always, I invite you to get involved:  if you think that you, your organization, your friend, your associate, or your client may be interested in enjoying the benefits associated with establishing a charitable endowment, I encourage you to contact me directly (928.420.4035, [email protected]).  I would be more than happy to discuss the issue, to see if a charitable endowment through The Enduring Charity Foundation is the right answer for your or yours.

Thank You for taking the time to read this post, and please do not hesitate to contact me if we can be of service.

Very Respectfully,

Josh

About The Enduring Charity Foundation

The Enduring Charity Foundation is an IRS-approved 501c3 non-profit foundation that helps individuals, businesses, and non-profits establish, maintain, and grow their own charitable endowments and micro-endowments, in order to provide an enduring source of financial support for those charities that they care about.

Our vision is to develop and grow into a multi-million dollar non-profit foundation that will provide hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to designated charitable organizations, year in and year out, forever.

In conjunction with its mission and operations, The Enduring Charity Foundation maintains three core values:  1) charity - support worthy and deserving charitable organizations; 2) perpetuity - create an enduring source of support through an endowment model; and 3) trust - conduct all activities and operations in a manner that honors the trust of our endowment Founders, Donors, and their designated charities.

Learn more and get involved at https://www.enduringcharity.org

About the Author

Josh Brooks, PhD is the founder and president of The Enduring Charity Foundation.  Josh’s full-time career is as an active duty aviation officer in the U.S. Army, with more than 17 years of service.

A deep sense of gratitude for all of the blessings in his life, combined with his desire to get involved in philanthropy, led Josh to found The Enduring Charity Foundation with his wife Julie, war buddy Wayne, and brother Dave.

Josh intends to apply those values that he learned in the Army - duty, integrity, and selfless service - in leading The Enduring Charity Foundation.

You can learn more about and connect with Josh by viewing his LinkedIn profile here.