Question 1

What is an endowment?

Accepted Answer

A permanent fund. It’s invested, the principal stays intact, and each year a set share is paid out to fund your mission.

Question 2

How is it different from savings or reserves?

Accepted Answer

Reserves are meant to be spent in a hard season. An endowment runs on a written board policy so it’s designed to be preserved. You need both.

Question 3

What does Plero do?

Accepted Answer

Your board sets a share of giving. Plero routes that share of every eligible gift into your endowment automatically, and handles reporting and records.

Question 4

Who is Plero for?

Accepted Answer

Churches, ministries and 501(c) nonprofits of any size.

Question 5

Who owns the money?

Accepted Answer

Your organization, always. It’s held in your name at Charles Schwab and never sits on Plero’s balance sheet.

Question 6

Who holds the assets?

Accepted Answer

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Member SIPC, as independent custodian. Plero is not affiliated with Schwab.

Question 7

Who manages the investments?

Accepted Answer

SEC-registered advisors manage the fund to your board’s investment policy, reviewed quarterly.

Question 8

What if Plero goes away?

Accepted Answer

The assets stay exactly where they are, in your name. There’s no lock-in, and your records export anytime.

Question 9

Are returns guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Any projections on this site are illustrative.

Question 10

Who decides the percentage?

Accepted Answer

Your board. Typically 5% to 15% of eligible giving, with 10% a common start. The board can change or pause it with every required signer.

Question 11

Who decides how it’s invested and spent?

Accepted Answer

Your board sets the investment policy and the yearly payout. Advisors follow it.

Question 12

Can a future board spend the principal?

Accepted Answer

That’s what the written policy is for. It sets clear rules for what can be spent, so one hard year can’t drain the fund.

Question 13

Will this reduce our ministry funding?

Accepted Answer

Most giving keeps funding ministry today. Many organizations start with a small share and grow it.

Question 14

Does anything change for our givers?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Exact setup depends on your giving platform and is confirmed at onboarding.

Question 15

Can members give directly to the endowment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Members can give one-time or monthly gifts straight to the fund, on top of the automatic share.

Question 16

Can we accept estate gifts, stock and bequests?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An endowment gives legacy gifts a permanent home, which many donors look for before they give.

Question 17

What about restricted gifts?

Accepted Answer

They’re honored as designated. The share applies only to giving your board includes.

Question 18

Is this a campaign?

Accepted Answer

No. It’s a standing policy. No drive, no deadline, no second ask.

Question 19

Do we need a big gift to start?

Accepted Answer

No. There’s no minimum. Most begin with a small share, often 10%, of everyday giving.

Question 20

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on your organization and fund size. We share a full fee schedule before you commit.

Question 21

How long does setup take?

Accepted Answer

Most organizations go from board approval to their first allocation in about 30 days.

Question 22

What do we need to begin?

Accepted Answer

A board decision on the share and the policy. We help you draft both.

Question 23

How do we know if we’re ready?

Accepted Answer

Take the free readiness assessment. Fourteen questions, about ten minutes, and you get a score out of 100.

Question 24

What is EndowPath?

Accepted Answer

Plero’s readiness assessment. It shows where you stand and gives you a private report to share with your board.

Frequently asked questions.

The basics

Money & custody

Your board & control

Giving & donors

Costs & getting started

Readiness