Building for the Future: The Importance of Endowment Growth and Planned Giving

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati (BGCGC) stands at a pivotal moment. Through our A New Generation capital campaign, the organization is raising $50 million to expand facilities, modernize clubs, invest in programming and staff, and secure its financial foundation. A vital component of that vision is to dedicate a portion of campaign resources to strengthening the endowment while encouraging legacy commitments through planned giving.

Today’s investments carry both immediate impact and long-term purpose. By building the endowment and growing planned giving, we can ensure that BGCGC can continue serving youth across Greater Cincinnati for generations, even when external support fluctuates.

Why Endowment Growth Is Essential

It is tempting to focus entirely on the visible. Components like new Clubhouses, upgraded technology and expanded programs matter deeply. But they become precarious if the organization cannot sustain them over time. That is where a robust endowment enters the conversation.

Leadership at BGCGC, including Dan Gibson (chair of the investment committee) and longtime board champions Dudley Taft and Patrick Lafley, recognized early on that without endowment support, even significant capital improvements or program expansions risked becoming vulnerable during lean periods. They set a goal to dedicate at least $7 million of campaign funds to the endowment and capital reserves.

From an investment lens, those endowed dollars form the organization’s long-term savings account. The annual returns support portions of operations, innovation, staff retention and program stability. The principal remains invested, preserving purchasing power over decades. In effect, the endowment becomes the steady and perpetual financial backbone of BGCGC.

That structure matters because BGCGC must respond reliably to rising costs, shifting grant landscapes, changes in philanthropic behavior and unpredictable demands. Insurance costs rise. Public funding can contract. Donor giving may ebb in certain years. But with a strong endowment, BGCGC can maintain core programming even when one funding stream dips.

Planned Giving: Legacy That Nourishes the Future

Planned giving offers a way for donors to extend their impact beyond the present moment. By including BGCGC in one’s estate plans through bequests, trusts, beneficiary designations or other instruments, supporters provide lasting resources that will funnel directly into the endowment.

Those legacy gifts have unique power. Donors can direct their assets for long-term good and leave a mark on future generations. For BGCGC, each planned gift strengthens the base that supports core mission work, ensuring that children not yet born also benefit from strong Clubs, inspiring mentors and opportunities.

As the campaign advances, BGCGC plans to engage longtime supporters in conversations about legacy giving. The idea is to go beyond simply sustaining current programs and grow the endowment, so that in decades ahead the Clubs remain vibrant, adaptive and mission driven.

How Campaign, Endowment and Legacy Work Together

These three elements are complementary parts of a sustainable model. Campaign dollars address immediate needs including facility upgrades, staffing and program expansion. A subset is directed to endowment, anchoring those changes in enduring stability. Planned gifts reinforce the endowment into the future, replenishing it continuously.

The A New Generation campaign allocates roughly $23 million for building and renovation, $20 million for program investments, staffing and operations, and $7 million for the endowment and reserves. That deliberate split embodies a dual commitment, meeting urgent needs and ensuring long-term capacity.

Under Dan Gibson’s leadership on the investment committee, BGCGC balances growth and security. The board monitors performance regularly and demands transparency. Donors can trust that their gifts are managed responsibly, that distributions from the endowment will support our mission and never overreach, and that the principal is guarded for future generations.

A Legacy for Generations to Come

An endowment is not an afterthought, it is a necessity. It ensures that programs do not vanish in harder times. It safeguards against unpredictable revenue shifts and allows the organization to plan with confidence, remain mission consistent and maintain quality staff.

Today, BGCGC serves more children and delivers more programming than ever before, with a current annual budget of about $6 million (up from $4 million eight years ago). But even with that growth, external funding from sources including government, grants, foundations and individual donors can waver. The endowment is the constant in an environment of change.

By combining disciplined campaign fundraising, meaningful endowment contributions and thoughtful planned giving, BGCGC positions itself to serve youth now and for generations ahead.

Donors interested in legacy gifts or in supporting the endowment should connect with BGCGC leadership. Their generosity today helps ensure that safe spaces, mentors, programs and dreams are available for children yet to come.

BGCGC’s commitment to building for the future is steadfast. Through endowment and planned giving, the organization houses not just programs and buildings but a legacy of hope, stability and opportunity for every child who walks through its doors.