Ever wonder why endowments matter, especially for small, community-based organizations?
In short, today’s gifts support the present, while endowments and planned gifts help build the future.

So, what is an endowment? Simply put, it is a fund created through donated gifts that is invested and grows over time. By setting aside and investing these funds, an organization creates a dependable income source that can support its mission for many years. This guarantees long-term financial stability, allowing organizations to plan, address new needs, and sustain their community services well into the future.

While many donors prefer to support immediate needs through monthly or annual giving, endowments are a great option for those who want to create a lasting impact and ensure the organization’s future stability.

Leslie Wallstrom is one of those donors. As Self Help’s former Board Chair, Leslie was instrumental in helping seed the vision of an endowment for Self Help. She comes from a long history of family-oriented generosity and because of that tradition, she’s always been committed to donating funds to various needy causes. Thanks in part to her generosity and leadership, the creation of a Self Help endowment at the Los Alamos Community Foundation became possible in 2025.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Leslie about why establishing this endowment was so important to her.

Q: What motivated you to create an endowment for Self Help?
“The Los Alamos Community Foundation staff did a presentation for the Board regarding establishing an Endowment Fund and educated us all on how the process works. Eventually, the Foundation staff described a way to establish an independent endowment fund which would welcome donations not required by the day-to-day operations of Self Help. This was a perfect situation for the Self Help Board, staff, and donors to help provide for future needs by collaborating with an outside organization!”

Q: Why was creating something to support the organization long-term important?
“As board Chair, I knew the organization had been around since 1969 with a long history of community members contributing to its mission. I did not want board members to worry about managing the financial intricacies over the long term. Thus, a separate endowment fund managed professionally by Enterprise Bank and Trust was very attractive. They have staff who specialize in this work.”

Q: What do you hope this endowment will enable in the coming years?

“As the endowment grows, I hope Self Help will receive a substantial annual check from the endowment’s interest to fund special projects or sustain ongoing programs. Needs are clearly increasing, and every bit helps pay for families’ emergencies.”

Q:  What keeps inspiring you to support Self Help?

“As a Christian and member or the Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, there’s a longstanding tradition of supporting Self Help as much as we can. When I joined the board, I learned a lot more about how effective they are in helping the needy in four different counties bounce back from an emergency. Self Help staff keep donors apprised of the impact they’re making and I’m impressed with their concern and diligence in assisting people to the best of their abilities.”

Q: What would you say to those considering a legacy gift or endowment contribution?

“If someone’s considering a gift to the current endowment fund, talk to Diane, the Director of Self Help, or the staff of the Los Alamos Community Foundation to understand what that means for your donated dollars. The long term impact is potentially huge as more people pool their funds, especially in the endowment, and I’d love to see the endowment grow so Self Help can start to count on these annual funds. No gift is too small if you’re considering a contribution because you’re joined by so many other donors in pursuing this goal and helping the needy.”

If you would like to learn more about supporting Self Help through the Acorn Fund, please visit https://selfhelpla.org/legacy-giving/ or call 505.662.4666.