What is the GCSF Endowment Fund?
The GCSF Endowment Fund ensures that we can continue awarding scholarships to deserving Germantown students—today and for generations to come. By investing in the future, we reduce our reliance on year-to-year fundraising and provide long-term stability, even when the economy shifts.
Each year, scholarship funds are drawn from three key sources:
- Annual Dinner & Auction
- Named Scholarship donations
- The Endowment Fund
From the Endowment Fund, GCSF allocates 5% (based on the five-year average balance) to support scholarships annually.
A Legacy of Giving
The Endowment Fund began in 1981 with a $10,000 donation from the Germantown Rotary Club. In 1990, the Germantown Volunteer Fire Company contributed $200,000, providing a major boost. Over the years, additional fundraising and stock market growth have helped the fund grow. Because we use a portion of the fund each year to support scholarships, ongoing contributions are essential to ensure its strength for future students.
How You Can Help
Donating to the Endowment Fund is a powerful way to make a lasting impact. Your gift will grow over time, continuing to support students well into the future.
- Give directly to the Endowment Fund (see donation options below)
- Join us at our Annual Dinner & Auction, where a special fundraiser supports the fund each year
Together, we can ensure that Germantown students always have access to the scholarships they need to succeed.
DO YOU KNOW THE QCD RULE?!
The qualified charitable distribution (QCD) rule allows IRA owners to reduce their income taxes by donating directly to an approved charity. If you are at an age where you are required to start withdrawing from your IRA/estate and are looking at paying high taxes on the withdrawal, talk to your advisor/CPA/attorney about how to donate to GCSF’s Endowment Fund in order to lower your taxes. Give the money to a cause you support instead of to the government!
– How to Reduce Your Taxes and AGI by Giving to Charity, Mark P. Cussen, 28 Nov. 2023, www.investopedia.com.
MONETARY CONTRIBUTION
Your monetary donation can be placed in the Endowment Fund to grow over time. Click on the ‘Donate’ button on our webpage and select ‘Endowment Fund’ under ‘Designate Your Gift’.
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP CONTRIBUTION
These types of contributions are funds that the donor wants the Germantown Community Scholarship Fund to hold and award over time. In addition to setting specific scholarship criteria, the donor(s) may also name the scholarship. This type of contribution can also be used to set up a Memorial Scholarship (see below), a wonderful way to honor a loved one’s passing.
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Creating a memorial scholarship provides the opportunity to create a lasting memory of a loved one. Consider designating Germantown Community Scholarship Fund as the beneficiary of memorial contributions. The memorial contributions may be designated for GCSF’s Memorial Fund or used to create a Named Memorial Scholarship.
Reach out to info@gcsfund.org for more information. Checks can be mailed to the below address:
Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc.
C/O the Germantown High School
W180N11501 River Lane
Germantown, Wisconsin 53022
