Endowment Fund

A form of investment fund where the money gets used to support an organization or non-profit. Think: universities, hospitals, churches, PBS documentaries about owls...that sort of thing.

You are extremely wealthy. You also love dog movies. Rin Tin Tin. Lassie. Marley & Me. You love them all. You want to set up a fund to provide a retirement home for former dog actors.

So you set up an endowment. You give $20 million to support a retirement kennel in Hollywood. Most of the money goes toward investments, trying to grow the fund with capital gains. But, periodically, cash gets paid out for the upkeep of the retirement palace for pooches. Rent, dog food costs, new squeaky toys...cash for everything comes from the endowment fund.