MSU Extension 4-H

The Kent and Muskegon County 4-H councils have made long-term investments in their local 4-H programs by establishing new term-endowed county funds with the Michigan 4-H Foundation. 

A term-endowed county fund is a method of earning investment proceeds on a fund to support local 4-H programs. Similar to a true endowment, the Michigan 4-H Foundation invests the funds strategically to help grow the fund, however the principal may be expended after time or due to a specific event. Typically, counties will only use the recommended spending from the investment annually. A minimum of $10,000 is required to establish a term-endowed county fund. 

Kent County 

The Kent County 4-H Council created the Kent County 4-H Council Fund, a term-endowed county investment fund, to support Kent County 4-H programs well into the future. 

“The Kent County 4-H Council decided to create this fund to enrich the lives of youth, providing them with ample opportunities for the future,” said Samantha Griffin, Michigan State University Extension 4-H program coordinator in Kent County. “Cost can be a huge barrier for youth success. We know that when youth are able to receive access to new opportunities, youth potential is only limited by what they set their minds to.” 

The Kent County 4-H Council has provided assistance for youth and volunteers to attend various 4-H events, including 4-H Exploration Days, 4-H workshops and more.  

“When I started as treasurer on the Kent County 4-H Council, I am sure that over 80% of the discussions had to do with raising money for funding our assistance programs. The time spent on publishing and distributing county plat books, along with hosting a booth for the Festival of the Arts, could have easily exceeded that 80%, too,” said Michael Nitschke, Kent County 4-H Council treasurer.  

Nitschke has served as a Kent County 4-H volunteer for over four decades. He has served the past 24 years as the Kent County 4-H Council’s treasurer. 

As treasurer, Nitschke realized that while the council had some money, it was not making much interest in the bank. He shared concerns that it would easily decrease over the years due to spending. There were several discussions on new fundraising ideas to cover expenses, however there were concerns of trying to realize a target of $800 per year and the size of the council had decreased, thus the time involved in fundraising would be significant for council members.  

“I had suggested that a second endowment fund could be a help. We could start with some of our current money and with some added donations, get up to an amount to cover our estimated annual expenses. It sounded like the council was interested until they realized the original investment would not be available to be taken back out, just like the Kent County 4-H Endowment Fund.  

“After a couple more years passed, dwindling council size and the pandemic, I had come across that the 4-H Foundation provides three options for endowments,” he continued. “One of the options, the term endowment, will allow for the council to still have the ability to spend the original investment, should the need arise. A second benefit with the term endowment is that it has a smaller minimum value that allows us to start reaping the benefits without needing to get it up to the value required by the true endowment. Since this eliminated the original sticking point, we decided to go ahead with the term endowment.”  

The purpose of the invested fund is to provide an unrestricted source of revenue for the Kent County 4-H Council to fund its annual operations. This may include, but is not limited to, funding for Kent County 4-H events, activities, start-up costs for 4-H fundraisers, and/or financial or legal expertise for auditing, tax preparation or other financial or legal purposes of the Kent County 4-H Council. 

“We are grateful that our community supports the work of 4-H, and that this fund will allow us to continue doing good work in Kent County. Kent County 4-H is the result of many generations of dedicated 4-H leaders who have tirelessly constructed programs through continuous leadership,” Griffin said. “Youth are our future; they will be the next generation of problem solvers, and it is our responsibility to prepare them for what the world may have in store for them. We are facing a world that has complex needs that will require true innovation from everyone.” 

Muskegon County 

Similarly, the Muskegon County 4-H Council recently created the Muskegon County 4-H Council Fund, also a term endowed county investment fund providing an unrestricted source of revenue for the Muskegon County 4-H Council and Muskegon County 4-H programs.  

This fund was created with the transfer of funds from an investment account previously held by the council that was subsequently closed with the creation of this fund. 

The Michigan 4-H Foundation also manages term endowed county funds that provide annual support for 4-H programs in Antrim, Barry, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Missaukee, Oakland, Otsego, Schoolcraft, St. Joseph, Tuscola and Wexford counties. To learn more about term-endowed funds, contact Abbey Miller at abmiller@msu.edu or 517-353-4433.