Frequently Asked Questions - Endowment Accelerator
Click on a frequently asked question below to navigate to the answer.
1. Can we apply for both Forward Together AND the Endowment Accelerator grants at the same time?
2. How does HGF define a qualifying permanent endowment?
3. Does every gift toward the Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant require an individual endowment agreement with each donor?
4. Our camp’s parent organization maintains a general endowment for multiple camps or programs; does that count as a qualifying permanent endowment?
5. Our organization maintains multiple endowments. How should we handle this matching grant?
6. Our organization’s endowment requires minimum contributions, how should we handle the HGF grant if it is under our required minimum?
7. Can we raise the entire Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant within the first year?
8. What happens if we do not raise any funds towards the matching grant in the first year of the grant period?
9. May we raise the entire Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant from one donor?
10. What happens if we don’t apply for the grant this year? Will we get another chance to do so?
11. What questions will we need to answer on the application?
1. Can we apply for both Forward Together AND the Endowment Accelerator grants at the same time?
Yes, affiliated overnight camps can apply for both and are encouraged to do so.
2. How does HGF define a qualifying permanent endowment?
Refer to the
“Qualifying permanent endowment fund” section in the grant guidelines.
3. Does every gift toward the Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant require an individual endowment agreement with each donor?
This is not required as a part of the Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant, but a camp or donor may elect to set up such an agreement.
4. Our camp’s parent organization maintains a general endowment for multiple camps or programs; does that count as a qualifying permanent endowment?
Yes, if the endowment meets HGF’s requirements for a qualifying permanent endowment and the funds received as part of the Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant are individually tracked and designated for the sole benefit of an individual camp.
5. Our organization maintains multiple endowments. How should we handle this matching grant?
The funds received as part of the Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant may be distributed across multiple funds, as long as each fund meets JCamp 180’s requirements for a qualifying permanent endowment.
6. Our organization’s endowment requires minimum contributions, how should we handle the HGF grant if it is under our required minimum?
Your organization may hold funds through the four years of the grant program until your camp meets the minimum contribution.
7. Can we raise the entire Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant within the first year?
Yes, and HGF will pay out the full matching grant ($40,000) as soon as this milestone is met.
8. What happens if we do not raise any funds towards the matching grant in the first year of the grant period?
Should a camp not submit a matching grant request in any given year, or if the submitted matching grant request does not draw one-quarter of the eligible match, undistributed funds will carry over and be eligible for disbursement through December 31, 2027. However, the year 1 requirements include developing the policy documents for the fund and submitting a Narrative Report.
9. May we raise the entire Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant from one donor?
Yes.
10. What happens if we don’t apply for the grant this year? Will we get another chance to do so?
HGF encourages all camps to apply this year; while there may be additional opportunities to re-apply at a later date, HGF cannot make any guarantees about available funds.
11. What questions will we need to answer on the application?
The following questions are found on the application:
- Do you have an existing endowment fund? If yes, please answer the following three questions:
- Does it meet HGF’s definition of a qualifying permanent endowment, as described in the Endowment Accelerator Grant Rules?
- Are there funds in your permanent endowment that have restricted usage?
- If yes, what percentage of the total permanent endowment do they represent, and what are they for?
- Do you have an endowment goal? What is it, and over what time period? (E.g. we would like to have a $25 million endowment by 2050)
- Describe your current efforts (if any) to solicit legacy contributions to grow your endowment (cash or future commitments).
- Do you anticipate needing training and coaching resources to implement an endowment program (or to complete this endowment match)? If yes, please share your thoughts on what would be most helpful from JCamp 180.
- What challenges do you anticipate in completing this match? Are there any constraints on your organization to complete an endowment program for your camp?
Have additional questions?
For questions about accessing the grant portal and submitting the application:
grants@hgf.org
For other questions about the grant:
jcamp180@hgf.org or your Relationship Manager