TBFN Nature Reserves
Endowment Fund

The purpose of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Nature Reserves Endowment Fund is to provide a permanent source of funds to support our Nature Reserves. We now own 11 pieces of property as reserves. The cost of holding these properties (taxes, insurance, etc.) is presently about $800 per year. Donation to the Endowment Fund will be invested to provide a steady long-term flow of cash to pay for these ongoing costs. Only the interest generated by the fund will be spent. All of the original capital donated will be left in the fund to continue generating interest. With these day-to-day expenses looked after, our club can feel confident in moving ahead with acquisition of new properties in the future.

Three TBFN executive members are acting as Trustees to oversee management of the Fund. An investment account has been opened and an investment advisor was consulted regarding the management of the fund over the long term to meet the needs of the Nature Reserves Program.

Donations to the Endowment Fund will hopefully come from a number of sources. Some will choose to write a cheque or donate cash. Others might consider making a donation of stocks or other marketable securities. There are definite tax advantages to donating stock rather than cash for some donors. Income tax receipts will be issued for donations of either stock or cash.

Other donors may wish to name "Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Endowment Trust Fund" as a recipient of part of their estate. Copies of the Endowment Fund's legal trust document are available to anyone who needs this information to share with their lawyer when planning such a bequest.

The amount of money initially required in the Endowment Fund is about $20,000. If we achieve a rate of return of about 4% per year in dividends and interest then the annual revenue generated by the fund would be $800. This would be just enough to pay the annual property tax bills of our present reserves. We hope, obviously, to attract much larger sums in the long run to support new acquisitions in the future. Once the interest produced by the fund exceeds the ongoing costs of the reserves, any excess interest can be used to help purchase new nature reserves.

I am asking for your help at this time to donate to the TBFN Nature Reserves Endowment Fund. Please mail your donation to: Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, Box 10037, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T6. Please include your name and address, whether you require a receipt, the amount enclosed and how you wish to be recognized on the donor list, either by name or anonymously. Make cheque payable to Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Endowment Trust Fund.

I am proud of what our club has accomplished. The TBFN Reserves at Nipigon River mouth, Black Bay Fen, in William Bog and near Stanley successfully protect some very significant natural areas. I am confident that our club can raise the capital now needed to support TBFN's Nature Reserves in the long term.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely, Susan Bryan, TBFN Nature Reserves Chairman. Phone: (807) 345-6446