What is Endowment?
What are some of the ways it could be used at Nativity?

• Endowment funds provide some assurance that resources needed to maintain operations of the parish are available during difficult times, such as periods of temporary reductions in income or unanticipated increases in operating expenditures.
  
• Endowment funds could be used to provide resources to sustain new initiatives such as enhancing adult education, outreach to the needy, tuition assistance, maintenance of expanded facilities, faith formation or marketing efforts.
  
• Endowment funds can be used so that only a portion of the income realized is expended, depending on the needs of the parish. Also, some of the income may be retained to offset inflation as much as possible.
  
• Endowment funds use only the interest on the fund and not the principle. However, the principle can be invaded if necessary to make needed improvements, with the expectation that those funds will be restored in future years.
  
• Endowment funds can be a critical component of sound planning and financial administration which allows a parish to move through difficult times without cutting back on services or staff.