In 2003, the Friends of MEND, Inc. (F of M) was founded as a wholly-owned fundraising affiliate of MEND for the sole purpose of obtaining charitable contributions to support MEND’s affordable housing mission. F of M is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of local citizens who volunteer their time and expertise to augment MEND’s fundraising efforts. Like MEND, the organization is a NJ nonprofit organization recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a tax exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; and contributions are tax deductible under section 170 of the IRS code.

In 2005, F of M opened an Endowment Fund for the long-term benefit of MEND’s affordable housing development and management. The strategy is to build an investment fund whose principal will remain intact and whose earnings will eventually be available to help defray MEND’s expenses. The F of M Board is responsible for raising the endowment funds, setting the investment guidelines and establishing the disbursement parameters. Since its establishment in 2005, no disbursements have been made from the account as yet because both MEND and F of M are committed to building the Endowment Fund for the long-run. Thus donors who make a financial contribution to the Endowment Fund can do so with the knowledge that their generosity will make a difference in the lives of thousands of MEND residents for years and years to come.

You may contribute to the Endowment Fund in several ways including:

• Donations of cash, security or real estate;
• Bequests by Will, the most common form of planned giving;
• Life Insurance, naming Friends of MEND as the beneficiary; and
  Charitable Remainder Trusts which can provide you with lifetime
   income.

For more information about making a donation to the F of M Endowment Fund, please contact:

Friends of MEND, Inc.
Attention: Matthew A. Reilly, Treasurer
99 East Second Street
PO Box 828
Moorestown, New Jersey 08057
Telephone (856) 722-7070, ext. 12
E-Mail: mreilly_mend@verizon.net