Diocesan Endowment Trust The Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend Endowment Trust was established in 1995 and has grown to nearly $5 million to date. The Trust is a nonprofit, religious corporation established to accept gifts in support of the various religious, educational and charitable works of the Catholic Church in the Diocese. Any type of gift may be offered to the Trust, such as cash, stock, real estate, or personal property. A minimum of $5,000 is required to establish an endowment account. Gifts of any size can be donated to an existing endowment account. When a gift is offered, the donor may designate a specific endowment account or the gift may be unrestricted. Periodically the endowment account will distribute interest, dividends and other net income according to the wishes of the respective parish, school, agency, or entity. This quarterly newsletter reports gifts received and those benefiting from the Trust, such as parishes, schools and agencies. Please consider the impact you can have on the diocese or on the parishes, schools or agencies, by establishing or contributing to an endowment. There are many giving options to donate to an endowment account. Many gift options will benefit the donor as well as the receiving organization or charity. The Development Office, with the assistance of Barnes and Thornburg, can provide a Planned Giving seminar at your parish, school or other designated location. Contact us.   How the Endowment Works -- click for Q&A format Planning Strategies -- We can find a plan that's right for you.   The simplest way to explain an endowment fund is to GIVE AN EXAMPLE: Mr. Johnson contributes $20,000 to his parish school endowment fund, directing that the income from that $20,000 should be used to provide financial aid to students whose families are unable to pay full tuition.When the parish school receives the money from Mr. Johnson, the $20,000 is placed in the parish/school Endowment Fund account which is part of the Fort Wayne/South Bend Endowment Trust.The Principal Amount of $20,000 remains intact forever. But once a year, the Diocesan Finance Office will send the parish a check for the amount of Net Yearly Investment Income earned from that $20,000 as its portion of the Endowment Trust. This is a restricted gift, since the donor has chosen where the funds will be used. In this case, with the initial permission of the donor, the school decides how the funds for financial aid will be used.