The Young Life Foundation offers long-term investment opportunities that traditionally provide a greater return than the internal interest earned on surpluses, allowing areas to reach more kids for Christ over the years to come.

• Designated Area Investment Funds are under formal agreement between Young Life and the Young Life Foundation.

• Minimum required balance is $35,000.

• The Foundation holds more than 100 designated investment funds.

• Four investment strategies are offered:
   o Strategies range from conservative to aggressive.
   o The strategy chosen should be based on area's risk/return tolerance and timeline of contributions and distributions.
   o The strategy is chosen by area director and/or committee.
   o All funds are currently invested in Frank Russell Mutual Funds.
   o Investments are overseen by the Young Life Investment Committee.

• Expenses charged to the fund:
   o Russell Investment Company charges investment consulting fees, which are divided proportionately among the Foundation funds based on asset values. 
   o Administrative Fee – The Foundation charges an annual fee of 50 basis points (one-half of 1 percent of the asset balance) for managing the investment fund.
   o Foundation funds are not assessed the Young Life Service Charge.
   o Area expenses may not be paid directly out of the Foundation fund.

• Distribution guidelines for the fund are set by committee and/or area director.

• Distribution requests may be made at any time, and area has access to the funds at any time. All that is required is a written request (e-mail, fax or regular mail) for the distribution to the area. Recurring distributions (annually, quarterly, monthly) may also be requested.

• Purpose – The fund can be created for a specific ministry purpose (e.g. campership, urban, development/growth, capital purchases) or for general ministry use in the area.

• Contributions may be made directly to the fund by donors, or a transfer can be done from the area account to the Foundation fund.

• Reporting – Quarterly financial reports, along with investment performance figures, are mailed to the area within four weeks after the end of each quarter. Asset balances are revalued to market on a monthly basis. The monthly balances can be obtained via request.

• Per the policies set forth in the Finance Manual (Staff Only), Young Life field ministries may not invest money outside of the Young Life Foundation.

If you would like more information on a designated area investment fund and investing for the long-term, please e-mail Jeff Rudder, director of Gift Planning.
 
For information on fundraising, planned giving, donor advised funds, corporate and foundation grants and TDS, please visit Development Services & TDS.