Fundraising Initiatives

Annual gifts are a way to have a direct and immediate impact on Camp. They ensure support for camp operations and financial aid in the year they are given. Where the operating budget falls short, the Annual Fund makes up the difference. Donations go directly into the operating budget and are used the year they are received. Gifts can be made by check, by credit card over the phone, or through PayPal.

Contributions to our endowment ensure longer term funding for Camp needs. Gifts are made to the principal of the Four Winds’ Endowment fund, managed by Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services and overseen by the Four Winds Investment Committee, and distributions from the fund are used to support the Financial Aid program. When the Endowment is fully funded, the Financial Aid program will be funded in perpetuity.

While most endowment gifts are made to support our Financial Aid program, endowment gifts can be structured to simply support Camp operations, or a specific program within Four Winds that is meaningful to the donor.

At a minimum gift level of $100,000, an endowment can be named by the donor, and will be listed every year in our our annual report. At that level, if the donor chooses, the endowment distributions can be restricted to the extent that the Executive Director judges to be sustainable in perpetuity, for example to fund Financial Aid to a camper from a particular region. Please reach out to us if you’d like to discuss the priorities you’d like to consider endowing.

Gifts to the endowment can be made by individuals, foundations, or through bequests.

Each May, Four Winds holds a one day fundraising event. On that day, generous donors match all donations up to a certain amount. Stay tuned each spring to hear when the May Match will be held, and be ready to give generously!