Endowment Gifts

History of Cate's Endowment

In 1932, encouraged by Curtis W. Cate, Major Max C. Fleischmann funded the first endowment fund at Cate School “to establish an endowment of scholarships and for other purposes.” As the founder of the School, Mr. Cate knew full well the value of a Cate education, and he praised Major Fleischmann’s gift as an investment in the future of the School and its students. Years later, 1973, Cate alumni, parents, and other friends honored Mr. Cate’s wisdom regarding endowment by naming the The Curtis W. Cate Fund after him. Both these funds (and the 222 other endowed funds established at Cate in the years since 1932) were established to ensure future generations would experience the same — or better — quality of educational experience on Mr. Cate’s Mesa. We invite you to consider a similar investment in the future.

The Value of Endowment Giving

While gifts to our annual Cate Fund provide critical dollars for the School’s operating budget and are spent in the year in which they are received, gifts to endowment are an investment in the long-term financial health of the institution. Income (annual earnings) from each of the School’s endowed funds is used to fund the School’s program in perpetuity. The principal is invested for long-term growth to serve present and future generations of students. Due to the generous support of our benefactors and the careful investment and stewardship of their gifts, the Cate endowment currently provides nearly 29% of the School’s operating budget.

Reasons for Giving

The decision to establish an endowed fund at Cate is unique for each person. Some want to “give back.” Others want to honor someone who had an impact on their personal development; still others believe giving to the School is a practical investment in a shared future. Whether donors opt to direct their endowment fund to support a specific area of the School, or to leave their fund unrestricted, all endowment funds at Cate help the School to fulfill its mission. Regardless of the reason for beginning an endowed fund, one thing is true for all donors…they continue to remain a part of the School. As long as their endowed fund exists at Cate, their legacy of philanthropy lives on, and the School’s financial security is enhanced.

How to Give

Outright gifts of cash or stock can establish an endowed fund. Pledges to complete funding can be made over several years. If a fund is established through a multi-year commitment, the terms of the pledge, including the timing of pledge payments and a confirmation of gift designation must be outlined in a Letter of Intent. Planned gifts may also fund a naming opportunity, through a variety of vehicles. A minimum of $100,000 is required to establish a new endowed fund at Cate.

In order to ensure the School and the donor have a mutual understanding of donor intent, new endowed funds will be established after a fund agreement between the donor(s) and Cate has been completed.

Stewardship of Endowed Funds

Stewardship of endowment gifts is important to Cate. The School actively manages its 224 endowed funds and 19 other charitable funds to ensure that donor restrictions are met and that the assets of these funds grow.  Donors and their designated stewardship contacts receive annual updates on their fund, including information on fund appreciation and illustrations of how income from the fund was spent in the fiscal year.