Ten Accomplishments in the First Year of Our Non-Profit Foundation

This month, we celebrated the one year anniversary of the establishment of The Enduring Charity Foundation, our non-profit foundation that helps individuals and small businesses move from being Donors to Philanthropists, by establishing micro-endowments to support the charities that they care about.

Looking back at our first year, there is much to be proud of; I believe that we have made tremendous progress, and I would like to share with you ten of our accomplishments.

Ten Accomplishments in the First Year of Our Non-Profit Foundation

In chronological order, here is a list of ten accomplishments in our foundation’s first year of existence:

1. We took action. As with any new venture, the hardest part is getting started.  But we did as much homework as we knew to do, weighed the risks and opportunities, considered very seriously the fiduciary responsibility associated with properly managing contributions of others’ hard earned money, and ultimately made the decision to go for it.
2. We established the Foundation. There is a lot of paperwork associated with starting a business, even a non-profit.  Through a process of ‘discovered learning’ (sometimes painful), we took all of the steps required to establish a non-profit corporation in the State of Georgia:  incorporation, obtaining an EIN, securing initial funding, opening a bank account, opening an investment account, obtaining charitable fundraising solicitations licenses, et cetera.
3. We created branding and an online presence. Believe me when I say that we are on a shoestring budget; so all branding and online presence development occurred in-house (that’s code for ‘we did it’).  I know that the branding, website, and Facebook page are a little amateurish, but it was the best that we could do in-house; and ultimately, it does in many ways reflect the current nature of the foundation:  new but learning, small but growing, DIY marketing but authentic and sincere.
4. We obtained 501c3 Status. With the help of our lawyer friend David Marmon, we obtained 501c3 status in only 47 days (from IRS acknowledgement of receipt, to approval).  Such a quick approval is clearly indicative that the IRS saw the design and intent of our foundation as clean, simple, legitimate, and in the true spirit of philanthropy.
5. We established seven endowments. Between October 27, 2014 and May 03, 2015 (our one year anniversary), we established seven endowments, with more than $25,000 endowed, supporting 10 different charities.  Additionally, we have more than $20,000 pledged over the next five years.  The establishment of these endowments is certainly our most significant accomplishment, and the one of which we are most proud.
6. We designed a suitable investment portfolio. In consultation with several licensed financial advisers, we designed a diversified investment portfolio, utilizing only the best and most trusted financial service providers in the industry (Wells Fargo, Fidelity, and iShares by BlackRock), to create that source of dividends, interest, and capital gains which will support our endowments’ designated charities. 
7. We obtained GuideStar Bronze Participant Status. As a way to demonstrate our transparency and commitment to our fiduciary responsibility, we provided all of the required information and were awarded Bronze Participant Status from the charity watchdog GuideStar.
8. We were accepted into the Google AdGrants program. We applied and were accepted into the Google AdGrants program, which includes a $120,000 annual advertising budget with Google AdWords.  This wonderful opportunity has resulted in an enormous increase in traffic to our website, which is translating into increased awareness and more donations.
9. We are starting to get noticed. On March 10, 2015, I was featured as the guest on Steve Vick’s Non-Profit Ally Podcast.  You can listen to my interview at here (my interview starts at about eight minutes into the podcast).
10. We filed our first IRS Form 990-PF. We are still learning a lot, but two things that we are sure of:  1) protect that 501c3 status, and 2) don’t mess with the IRS.  So with the help of our accountant friend Vibha Singla, we filed our first IRS Form 990-PF, complete, accurate, and on time.  And again, as a way to demonstrate our transparency and commitment to our fiduciary responsibility, we have posted this year’s IRS Form 990-PF (along with the rest the foundation’s licensure and compliance documents) on our Licensure and Compliance page. 

A Look Ahead:  Year Two and Beyond

The future is bright, and we are in a position to grow.  Now that we have many of the systems initially in place (website, Facebook, LinkedIn, bookkeeping, accounting, reporting, banking, investing, et cetera), we can focus on growth by:  1) attracting charitable individuals, 2) educating them about the benefits of the endowment style of philanthropy, and 3) helping them found their own charitable endowments.

Compliance and endowment management are also high on our priority list.  To be that good steward of our Founders’ and Donors’ contributions, we must continue to operate legally and ethically, and report in a timely manner to the IRS and State of Georgia.  Additionally, like any investment portfolio, ours must be properly managed in order to take advantage of opportunities, protect against risks, and ensure that enduring source of financial support for our endowments’ supported charities.

We also very much look forward to November 2015, when we will make our first distributions to the charities supported by our endowments.  What an exciting and rewarding time that will be.

Finally, we look forward to continuing to learn, as there are one hundred things or more that we could be doing better, and our existing systems will need to evolve as we continue to grow.  Additionally, our marketing and fundraising activities are inconsistent, not proceduralized, and simply need work; but we look forward to the challenge of improving this, as well as the thrill of learning as we progress and grow.

Conclusion

With a lot of hard work, some (painful and frustrating) minor missteps, and the support and help of many generous friends and family, we have turned what was once an idea into an established entity that will provide an enduring source of financial support to several worthy and deserving charities, forever.

Additionally, the conditions are set to continue our future growth in our second year and beyond, so that we can increase the positive impact that our foundation brings to bear in the domain of philanthropy.

Finally, I invite you to join us:  1) visit our website to donate to an existing endowment, 2) contact us to establish an endowment of your own, or 3) refer us to a charitable associate who would be interested in our approach to sustainable philanthropy.

And as always, THANK YOU for your consideration, your help, and your support.

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, 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 - year in and year out, forever - to designated charitable organizations.

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 the 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.