Key Takeaways
- • Keith Curtis, chairman and CEO of The Curtis Group, argues in a Virginian-Pilot expert column that Hampton Roads donors and nonprofits should make endowment gifts a central part of giving conversations.
- • Cerulli Associates estimates wealth transfers will total $124 trillion through 2048, with approximately $18 trillion going to charity.
- • Federal Reserve data show total U.S. household net worth rose approximately 72.5% between year-end 2019 and mid-2026, not adjusted for inflation.
- • Only 13% of affluent donors involve children, grandchildren or younger relatives in charitable decisions, according to the 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
- • A hypothetical $25,000 endowment gift at a 7% return and 5% annual distributions would pay out approximately $13,700 over 10 years while leaving about $30,500 invested.
Summary
Keith Curtis, chairman and CEO of The Curtis Group, a Virginia Beach-based consulting firm, writes in a Virginian-Pilot expert column that endowment funding deserves a place in local philanthropic discussions as a path to long-term strength for Hampton Roads nonprofits. He contrasts visible, tangible needs such as new facilities with the less visible need for dependable funding that supports an organization well into the future.
Curtis cites Cerulli Associates' estimate that wealth transfers will total $124 trillion through 2048, with roughly $18 trillion directed to charity. He also points to Federal Reserve data showing U.S. household net worth increased approximately 72.5% between year-end 2019 and mid-2026, not adjusted for inflation. He argues these shifts create an opportunity for donors to convert appreciated assets into lasting charitable support, and for nonprofit leaders to engage long-term supporters about the future they could help create.
Curtis highlights the need to involve younger generations, noting the 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy, conducted with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, found that only 13% of affluent donors involved children, grandchildren or younger relatives in charitable decisions. He says the Great Recession, the pandemic and recent federal funding cuts have shown how quickly nonprofit finances can change, and that endowments, which provide regular distributions while preserving principal, can help organizations sustain services and fund growth.
As an illustration, Curtis uses a hypothetical $25,000 endowment gift assuming a 7% annual return and distributions of 5% of each year's beginning fund value. Under those assumptions, it would distribute approximately $13,700 over 10 years while leaving about $30,500 invested. He notes actual results would vary with investment performance, fees and spending policies.
Curtis recommends that endowment sit within a broader fundraising plan that includes annual operating support. Gifts can be made through outright contributions of cash or appreciated assets, deferred commitments through wills, trusts or beneficiary designations, or a combination, in consultation with organizations and professional advisers.
Curtis cites Cerulli Associates' estimate that wealth transfers will total $124 trillion through 2048, with roughly $18 trillion directed to charity. He also points to Federal Reserve data showing U.S. household net worth increased approximately 72.5% between year-end 2019 and mid-2026, not adjusted for inflation. He argues these shifts create an opportunity for donors to convert appreciated assets into lasting charitable support, and for nonprofit leaders to engage long-term supporters about the future they could help create.
Curtis highlights the need to involve younger generations, noting the 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy, conducted with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, found that only 13% of affluent donors involved children, grandchildren or younger relatives in charitable decisions. He says the Great Recession, the pandemic and recent federal funding cuts have shown how quickly nonprofit finances can change, and that endowments, which provide regular distributions while preserving principal, can help organizations sustain services and fund growth.
As an illustration, Curtis uses a hypothetical $25,000 endowment gift assuming a 7% annual return and distributions of 5% of each year's beginning fund value. Under those assumptions, it would distribute approximately $13,700 over 10 years while leaving about $30,500 invested. He notes actual results would vary with investment performance, fees and spending policies.
Curtis recommends that endowment sit within a broader fundraising plan that includes annual operating support. Gifts can be made through outright contributions of cash or appreciated assets, deferred commitments through wills, trusts or beneficiary designations, or a combination, in consultation with organizations and professional advisers.
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