Ready for More

CASA of Southwestern Illinois has grown significantly over the years, leading them to seek ways to secure and sustain their future. But when the discussion turned to establishing an endowment fund, Executive Director Mechiko White says their Board questioned “Were we really ready for something of this caliber?”
With what she calls “dynamic” resources and support from YouthBridge, White successfully communicated the benefits of and path toward establishing an endowment fund. Matching funds from YouthBridge also helped to convince the Board they had found the right partner.

Now that their fund has been established, White reports it has gone from being a source of doubt to something that “sparks excitement” among board members. She also sees the difference an endowment fund has made in increasing their credibility in the eyes of their funding sources. Or as one of their major supporters said, “That was a good move!”