No doubt you have more questions about the how the TMN Endowment is structured or how it will reach its goals. We encourage you to look through these answers to understand more. If you have additional questions, please contact us (link).
This document is intended to be used as a resource tool and will be continuously updated and revised as new questions are submitted and answered.
Updates as of June 9, 2017
Why is the Texas Master Naturalist Program starting an Endowment? How is the Texas Master Naturalist Program currently funded? Why is the goal $5 million dollars? What is the long term target goal for the endowment? Is our Endowment directed at raising funds only from current Texas Master Naturalist volunteers, or to other potential donors outside of the Texas Master Naturalist Program? Who will decide how the TMN Endowment funds, once generated, will be used? What are the plans to use the funds generated annually by the TMN Endowment? Who holds the account and what is the return annually of the Endowment? Is my contribution tax-deductible? My company has a matching gifts program. Is the TMN Endowment eligible to receive matching funds? Search if Your Company Matches Gifts Can I designate where and/or how the funds will be used? Can I make a donation other than cash?
We began discussing the idea of an endowment a number of years ago. As the program began to grow with exponential potential, the outreach possibilities for the program and the programs volunteers became clearer. To us, there is so much more that our program can offer the conservation community and the natural resources of Texas, there is more that our TMN state office can do to provide resources for our volunteers in the fields doing this work, and there is more that we can be doing to showcase the accomplishments of our volunteers.
The Texas Master Naturalist Program state office is funded through a federal grant from the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937. This grant is funded from conservation dollars distributed to the states with a 3 to 1 match component and calculated from the
If funded, a $5 million dollar endowment would generate annually at minimum a 4% return of $200,000. The current statewide budget for the TMN state office is approximately $200,000. The goal is to have the endowment double our resources. It would not replace the current funding being received and used by the federal grant, but would be supplemental.
The long term target goal for the endowment is to raise funding opportunity for the program. These funds generated would be governed by a leadership advisory board composed of current TMN leaders from around the state, along with TPWD & AgriLife Extension leadership.
Our intention is to raise funds for the endowment from those willing to support our programs mission and need for growth, whether that be from program members or program partners.
The Texas Master Naturalist Endowment will be governed by a team of advisors. These advisors will include TMN volunteers with leadership experience in the program, partnership organization leadership, and leadership from TPWD and AgriLife Extension. The TMN state office will act as resource liaisons for the board.
At the present, there are only a handful of ideas that have been generated on ways in which these endowment funds could be spent once generated. Some of these ideas include:
The endowment account is held by Texas A&M Foundation – they will manage all the investments and endowment growth returns. They guarantee a 4% return minimum annually. In high years, the fund could generate a higher % return, but in low years, they will maintain that 4% return.
Yes! You will receive a receipt for your donation in the mail.
Yes! Many companies have corporate gift matching programs where they match charitable donations made by their employees. Through corporate gift matching, you can double the impact of your gift to the Texas Master Naturalist Endowment.
Your funds go directly to the TMN Endowment. They are not used for purposes outside of the endowment. At this time, it is most beneficial for the funds not to be restricted within the TMN Endowment or program. This provides TMN the ability to put the funds toward greatest needs within the program. If you are interested in making a separate gift with designations please contact Darin Paine Darin.Paine@ag.tamu.edu.
Yes! There are many different giving options including stock, real estate, mineral rights and so on. Additionally, you could set up a charitable remainder trust, gift annuity or other options all designated to the TMN Endowment. If you have questions or are interested in different giving options please contact Darin Paine Darin.Paine@ag.tamu.edu.