How Does the Endowment Fund Work?
The Crop Diversity Endowment Fund provides a sustainable, long-term financing mechanism for the important work of protecting crop diversity in perpetuity.
The Crop Trust invests its money in a diversified range of low-risk financial instruments to generate sufficient returns for this purpose.
As of 31 March 2024, the Endowment Fund received USD 260 million in contributions and its total estimated value amounted to USD 317 million.
Each year, a portion of the fund’s value is paid out to support activities that ensure global crop diversity is safely conserved and maintained. Disbursements come solely from investment income earned so that the capital is not drawn on.
Since 2005, more than USD 82 million has been withdrawn from the Endowment Fund to support the core mission of the Crop Trust.
Why do genebanks need guaranteed, long-term support?
Genebank collections require constant maintenance, and even brief disruptions or lapses in funding can leave material at risk of permanent loss. Unlike project funds that are disbursed and exhausted, endowment resources are safeguarded and invested by the Crop Trust to earn an annual investment to preserve the real financial value of the endowment over time.
Only this kind of predictable, long-term support can secure a global system of conservation for a shared resource that is too important for anything less than perpetual care.
How can I help?
While government donations to the Endowment Fund remain its primary source of funding, the Crop Trust also offers tailored funding and investment opportunities for individuals, foundations and private investors.
Whether you are an individual concerned about how agriculture will adapt to climate change in your own country or a representative of a larger entity sharing our vision of food security for future world generations, every contribution counts.
Contact us to learn more about how you can contribute to a sustainable, resilient and food-secure future for all.