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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Covenant House do today?

Today, Covenant House services include, but are not limited to, the following core programs:

• Drop In Center/Day Shelter
• Emergency Assistance
• Food Pantry
• Clothing Closet
• Supportive Services
• Adopt-a-Family Holiday Program
• AIDS Residential & Resource Program
• Health Action Program
• Challenge West Virginia
• Counseling
• Non-profit Technology Program

Didn't Covenant House have a major fundraising campaign in 2000? Why are you raising money again?

Yes, five years ago we ran a successful capital campaign. We're proud that we reached our fundraising goal are particularly pleased by the terrific support we received from the community. We're also delighted with our new home on Shrewsbury Street. For some time, Covenant House had desperately needed a larger building, and the funds we raised in 2000 provided us with the physical structure adequate to continue our work well into the future.

Today, we're taking what we consider the next logical step in our “building” process: working to reinforce Covenant House's financial stability. As we near our 25th anniversary, we're asking the community to join us in this effort to preserve and protect Covenant House's future with our endowment campaign Renewing the Covenant.

What is an endowment?

It is a permanently held fund. The principal cannot be spent, but the income it generates through investment can be. It offers a regular, long-term source of financial support for a nonprofit organization.

Is it right for Covenant House to raise millions of dollars, and then just invest it? Shouldn't you spend it now on things like food, clothing, and housing?

It's an important question. The truth is there are numerous, serious needs in our community, which can shift or change. Rather than choose one need over another today, we believe the most responsible, forward-thinking approach is to invest in the stability of Covenant House. Covenant House has a long track record of recognizing and responding to community needs with innovation and effectiveness. With your help, we will continue to do so now and into the future.

Don't you get government money? Don't you have a national office in New York to support you in hard times? Why do you need me?

We do receive grants from the government to provide certain services. However there are never any guarantees with government funding, and we simply cannot risk interruptions in our critical services. Looking to the government as a means of long-term support is unrealistic, and it's one of the reasons we're committed to raising an endowment for Covenant House.

The answer to the second question is an emphatic NO! We are not, nor have we ever been, affiliated with Covenant House of New York. Charleston's Covenant House was founded in 1981 by a group of local churches and synagogues. Covenant House has always been a grassroots organization – local people, working together and making decisions about the community they live in.

Finally, as a community based organization, our work would not be possible without your support. We do need you, and the many other people, foundations, businesses, and congregations who contribute to Covenant House.

Covenant House has enjoyed great leadership from Pat and Barbara since the very beginning – will Covenant House still be the same after they retire or leave?

It will still be Covenant House, and the mission will endure, but certainly not everything will remain the same. Change, however, doesn't concern us – mediocrity does. People often tell us Covenant House is special, and we are committed to preserving that. Therefore, we're taking steps to ensure we find truly extraordinary leadership to nurture and grow Pat and Barbara's legacy.

We are planning a lengthy, multi-layered process involving not just Covenant House board members, but Pat and Barbara themselves, longtime friends of the organization, local leaders from business, government and nonprofit sectors, and representatives from our supporting congregations. The search will be both local and national in scope and we plan to take our time – this undertaking is something we think of in terms of months, not weeks.

Once leadership has been chosen, we envision a period of gradual integration, leaving time for meeting with the community and getting hands-on experience working with the folks we serve. We're confident that with your input we will find leaders able to fill the shoes of their predecessors.

Who will be handling the endowment? How do I know my money will be invested wisely?

The fund will be held at the investment firm Hilliard Lyons. Founded in 1854 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Hilliard Lyons is a full service brokerage and investment firm that holds over $26 billion in client assets. The manager from Hilliard Lyons' Charleston office will handle endowment fund investment, and will report to Covenant House's finance committee.

The Covenant House finance committee is composed of finance and legal professionals. Members serve on a voluntary basis, and their responsibilities include oversight and evaluation of the endowment fund manager, and development of the investment policy. For more information about endowment fund management, or to receive a copy of our investment policy, please call Erica Pulling, Endowment Coordinator, at 304-344-1479, ext. 21.

What are my options for making a gift?

The first thing we ask is that you consider making a multi-year pledge. Spreading payments out over time may allow your budget to accommodate a gift more generous than would be possible with a one-time payment. While we appreciate any amount you are able to give, a gift that is a “stretch” would be especially meaningful. We are trying to raise an endowment of at least $2.5 million, which is a challenge itself, but the more we raise, the more income the endowment will provide for Covenant House.

A gift can come in a variety of forms, including:

• Cash/Checks
• Securities (Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds)
• Real Estate
• Planned Gift

The term “planned giving” includes much more than simply leaving money in one's will, although such gifts – known as bequests – are a popular and convenient type of planned gift.

Other types of planned gifts are generally designed to provide income and tax advantages to a living donor and their family and, as part of an overall financial plan, they must be tailored to each individual. This type of planning is not only for the very wealthy, it's for anyone trying to determine the best way to maximize their assets for themselves and their families, while also supporting their favorite charitable cause.

If you have a financial planner or attorney, we encourage you to speak with them, and together with a representative of the Covenant House endowment committee, they can work to structure your gift. If you do not, our members can refer you to qualified planners. To learn more about the options available with planned giving, or to set up an appointment to speak in greater detail, please call Erica Pulling, Endowment Coordinator, at 304-344-1474, ext. 21.