Helping Charities Becoming Sustainable

YouthBridge's Expanded Vision

St. Louis , February 21, 2007 -

Recently, The Salvation Army announced that their annual Tree of Lights campaign fell short of its regional goal by seven percent.  As the need for aid and the number of charities continue to grow, the pressure on donors becomes increasingly strained. 

According to the Gateway to Giving Coalition, St. Louisans will donate an estimated $181 billion to charity between 2001 and 2055, but it still won’t be enough to adequately sustain each non-profit organization operating today.  To help non-profit organizations stay afloat, we need to take some responsibility as donors. 

By encouraging non-profit organizations to develop and implement business plans and making responsible donations, we are ensuring their future strength.  YouthBridge had been addressing the financial needs of children’s charities for several years before officially restructuring in 2005.  One of the reasons we shifted the focus to sustainability amongst children’s charities was The Good Sheppard School of St. Louis. 

In 1995, The Good Sheppard School approached YouthBridge with a dilemma.  They needed to establish a permanent location and a plan to finance and maintain the new facility.  YouthBridge began by working with the school to develop a sustainable business plan. 

With a business strategy in place, YouthBridge leased property on its own campus and guaranteed a building loan for the school.  Ten years have passed, and The Good Sheppard School continues to provide inclusive education to both developmentally needy and typically developing children.  

A financial endowment, like our partnership with The Good Sheppard School, can create a substantial impact in the hands of a non-profit organization that understands how best to use it.  Make sure that your donation is a good investment for your money, for the non-profit organization, and for the millions of people in need. 

To ensure that the non-profit organization or cause that you care about benefits the most from a donation, consider leaving a financial endowment.  Financial endowments allow a donation to be made in the form of capital or property.  The non-profit organization is required to leave the donated principal intact and invest the money.  This provides a consistent line of income that a non-profit organization can depend on and include in its annual budget.

A financial endowment can create a substantial impact in the hands of a non-profit organization that understands how best to use it.  Make sure that your donation is a good investment for your money and for the non-profit organization.  By investing in non-profit organizations, we’re investing in our future.