Legacy Endowment distributes year-end grants

FALLBROOK – As Fallbrook and Bonsall's regional community foundation, Legacy Endowment distributed more than $525,000 in generous grants and annual distributions Nov. 16, hosting an "open office" for donors, board members and stakeholders.

The day-long reception replaced an annual dinner in order to give individuals, interested donors, and agency representatives a more personal opportunity to learn more about each other. Grants were awarded from its Elisabeth Wilson Endowment and Ansell Family Funds, and, in addition, annual distributions were made to beneficiaries of its various endowed funds.

Legacy Endowment Community Foundation is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit public charity established in 1994 to serve donors, award grants and scholarships, and provide philanthropic leadership to local charities.

"Community foundations fill a unique, specialized and dual purpose serving a donor's or couple's charitable intentions as well as helping nonprofits grow their unrestricted, undesignated funds through prudent investments," noted Legacy Executive Director Jean Larsen. "Our purpose is to help advance a community's ability to respond to its citizens' humanitarian needs through financial and charitable intention with a never-ending horizon."

Legacy Director and Grant Committee Member Susan Woodward has been serving the Fallbrook and Greater San Diego North County area for more than 34 years through her professional CPA accounting firm. She remarked during her time at the recent event that "...engaging with the individuals who came that day meant so much to me. It was touching, meaningful, and beyond this, I know we are making a profound and important difference."

Board Chair Rachel Mason was thrilled with the outcome of the day saying, "Legacy's interests are aligned with community interests. Having a day-long event to meet with people one-on-one helps our board of directors strategically consider how to create sustainable and perpetual charitable resources for nonprofits. We can improve economic indicators of community vibrancy and health by growing Legacy's invested assets; involving more community philanthropists in our work; and offering more of Legacy's expertise to nonprofits who desire to develop more robust planned gift options for their strongest supporters."

Created by individuals, families, nonprofits, and businesses who share a passion for the Fallbrook/Bonsall region, Legacy has granted more than $11 million in charitable support since its founding. Its donor-centric stewardship responsibilities focus on having a safe, productive investment shelter that makes scholarship awards and charitable contributions, even during challenging times.

For nonprofit agencies, Legacy is able to help manage and grow undesignated donor contributions to fulfill the Unified Prudent Management Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act as part of their governance and compliance.

For more information, visit Legacyendowment.org or contact their office at 760-941-8646.

Submitted by Legacy Endowment.