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Endowment

For over 70 years, Winding Trails has stayed true to its roots. We continue to offer an award-winning summer day camp. A wonderful beach and picnic area on a clear blue lake with top-notch education programs and events for all ages. Many people love Winding Trails. If you ask why, you hear comments like its beautiful, clean, relaxing, safe, and rustic. You will also hear about good programming, great facilities, and dedicated staff.

These are nice accolades, but the real reason people love Winding Trails is they have raised their families here. They had some of their best days at the beach here. They met their friends here. Their kids went to camp here. They see their neighbors here.  We are going on four generations of people enjoying themselves here. People love Winding Trails because being here makes great memories!

The endowment will secure yours and Winding Trails legacy by providing the funds needed to ensure Winding Trails will continue to serve future generations. Winding Trails is focused on the next 70 years. We want your grandchildren's kids to learn to swim in a healthy, clean, and clear Dunning Lake. We want them to meet new friends at camp. We want them to wander in the woods seeking and finding the wonders of nature.  We want them to gather with their family and friends for a BBQ. We promise to continue to be good stewards of these 380 acres of woodlands and waterways and provide opportunities that make memories for generations to come.

Individuals and families who make a gift to the Winding Trails Endowment will help ensure the future of Winding Trails and its valuable programs and property. With your help we will be able to continue to serve future generations. These gifts build long-term financial stability for Winding Trails. With your commitment to Winding Trails Endowment, we create a promising tomorrow for kids, families and our community. Your investment protects this promise and helps us care for this cherished place!

The Endowment resides in two places: One fund is a Board designated endowment created by the Winding Trails Board of Directors and the other a permanent endowment with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Interested parties can donate to either fund. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your interest in helping us to further our mission and guiding principles.

WINDING TRAILS BOARD DESIGNATED ENDOWMENT
This fund is overseen by money managers selected by Winding Trails Board of Directors according to an investment policy established by the Board. Contributions to this fund will be treated as an endowment and not permanently restricted by the donor.  Use of the interest on this fund is determined annually by the Board and is guided by a 5% spending policy. The Board can, with a majority vote, withdraw funds from the historic dollar value if deemed prudent.

WINDING TRAILS ENDOWMENT AT THE HARTFORD FOUNDATION
Winding Trails is fortunate to have an endowed charitable fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving for the perpetual benefit of Winding Trails. These donations are made with the requirement that the principal remain intact and money earned from investing the principal be used for Winding Trails. Governance of the fund, investment, and distributions from the fund, are the sole discretion of the Hartford Foundation.  Winding Trails Board of Directors will determine how these distributions will be spent.

Endowment FAQs

HOW CAN I CONTRIBUTE TO THE ENDOWMENT?
You can contribute to the endowment as a direct lifetime gift or a planned gift through your estate. Whether by a present or deferred gift, supporting Winding Trails' endowment offers a way to dedicate one's values in conservation and meaningful programs for current and future generations.
HOW DOES THE ENDOWMENT DO THIS?
The endowment will play a vital role in providing financial support to further our mission. It ensures Winding Trails' future by preserving and enhancing the real, inflation-adjusted value of the endowment's corpus through prudent investments and strong oversight. As a result, the endowment will provide a steady, stable and predictable stream of earnings to allow planning for Winding Trails' facilities and programs.
HOW WILL THE ENDOWMENT SUPPORT WINDING TRAILS?
The Hartford Foundation and/or the Board of Directors will approve an annual maximum contribution from the endowment. Currently the guideline is five percent of the average market value of the twelve previous quarters.
HOW DOES WINDING TRAILS USE THAT SUPPORT?
Earnings from the endowment are used exclusively to support Winding Trails' facilities and programs. 
WHAT LANGUAGE SHOULD BE USED TO MAKE A BEQUEST?
Leaving a bequest to Winding Trails, Inc. is not a difficult thing to do.  Language such as this will suffice.  I hereby give, devise and bequeath Winding  Trails, Inc. the sum of $ ___ or ______ percent (%) of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to be used to support the Winding Trails Board designated endowment or the Winding Trails Endowment at the Hartford Foundation (Your Choice) at the time the gift is received.
ENDOWMENT BROCHURE
Please Click below for Endowment Brochure

PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS!
Scott Brown, Executive Director, would be happy to speak with you. You can reach him at
(860) 677-8458 x18 or scott @windingtrails.org