Endowment
A lasting purpose.
A future worth building.
An endowed gift can connect a deeply held purpose with long-term support for a school. Begin a conversation about the future you hope to help make possible at Lillie May.
Think beyond one school year
What would you
like to sustain?
You may care about a learning experience, a school priority, or the legacy of someone whose example shaped you. An endowment conversation starts with that purpose, then considers how a fund could be structured and stewarded over time.
Unlike a general Annual Fund gift, an endowed gift is governed by written terms for long-term stewardship and spending. Those terms matter as much as the gift’s name.
Contact LMCJ before making a gift intended for endowment so we can confirm what arrangements are available and what approvals and agreements would be needed.
A shared understanding from the start
Bring your intention.
Shape the terms together.
01 / Purpose
Name what matters.
Tell us whom you hope to honor and what part of Lillie May’s future you would like to support.
02 / Structure
Agree before giving.
Confirm the fund’s purpose, acceptance, recognition, stewardship, and spending terms through the school’s approval process.
03 / Continuity
Plan for change.
Discuss reporting and what should happen if the original purpose becomes impractical or the school’s needs change.
Endowment questions
Long-term support.
Clear expectations.
Can a family or community build a fund over time?
Bring that idea to us before collecting gifts. A written arrangement should explain the purpose, fundraising goal, contribution period, progress reviews, whether any gifts may be spent during the build period, and what happens if the goal is not reached.
A balance, anniversary, or informal promise does not automatically convert a tribute collection into an endowment.
Is a named gift always an endowed gift?
No. A name can connect gifts around a shared legacy, while the agreed terms determine how those gifts may be used. A named gift may be intended for current use, a specific purpose, or a separately approved endowed arrangement.
Is there a published minimum or spending rate?
Endowed giving requires terms approved for the particular arrangement. Please discuss the proposed amount and purpose with us rather than assuming that a general gift threshold, investment account, or distribution rate applies.
Can an estate gift support an endowment?
If that is your intention, discuss the purpose and proposed terms with LMCJ before your advisors finalize documents. We can confirm the legal receiving details and whether the intended arrangement can be accepted.
A legacy with a shared future
Begin with
the possibility.
You do not need to arrive with a finished fund agreement. Bring the person, purpose, or hope that inspired you, and we can explore a responsible next step together.
Your purpose. Your way to give.
Choose a campaign.
Choose how you give.
For an endowment gift, agree on acceptance and written terms with LMCJ first, then use an approved giving method and the exact agreed designation. For other gifts, choose the school purpose or open campaign you want to support, then choose an available way to give. Please write the campaign name and year, or “Annual Fund,” in the memo, designation, or note field where available. For a tribute, include the honoree’s name as well.
If there is no note field, contact us with your name, gift date, amount, and intended campaign so we can identify your gift. Please confirm a closed campaign, new restriction, named fund, or endowment arrangement with us before giving.
PayPal
Use our existing PayPal option. Add your campaign or Annual Fund designation where a note is available, or contact us separately to identify the gift.
Givebutter
Use the campaign’s own donation page, or choose Donate on our general hub and include the campaign name and year in the available note or comment field.
Check
Write the campaign name and year, or Annual Fund, in the memo. Confirm the check payee with us before mailing to LMCJ, 2200 Sinclair Lane, Baltimore, MD 21213.
Donor-advised fund
Ask us to confirm legal recipient details and campaign eligibility before recommending a grant. Include your intended campaign in the grant purpose. DAF grants should not pay for tickets, merchandise, or personal benefits.
Employer matching
Ask whether your employer can match an eligible gift. Tell us which original gift and campaign the match relates to so we can connect the records.
Stock or another arranged gift
Discuss the campaign, timing, and gift with us first. Securities, transfers, pledges, and special arrangements require confirmed acceptance and verified instructions before you proceed.
Already gave? Tell us about your gift →
Gifts received through PayPal, checks, or another method are included in the relevant campaign’s public total after staff verify and record them. They may not appear immediately. Your payment confirmation and the school’s acknowledgment help document your gift.
These options are for charitable gifts. Tickets, registrations, dues, merchandise, and sponsorships with benefits follow their own payment instructions; a donation memo does not reserve admission or purchase an item. Existing recurring gifts can continue through their current service.
A community behind every scholar
Help write what comes next.
Every gift begins with a belief in what our girls can become. Thank you for being part of their story.
