People sometimes ask: “How do I know donations to the McCready Foundation will be used responsibly?”

That is a widely held concern these days among donors everywhere, especially in this time of economic uncertainty.

The McCready Foundation in Crisfield works closely with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, which manages a “Nonprofit Partner Fund.” This proven financial investment vehicle is designed to protect and grow McCready’s building fund.

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is a non-profit organization based in Salisbury with a governing board composed of well-respected civic leaders representing the local business, charitable and general communities.

The McCready Foundation's governing board is committed to being good stewards of the gifts it receives in support of the healthcare its facilities provide. Like a number of other charitable organizations across the Delmarva Peninsula, McCready leaders have entrusted the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore with safeguarding and managing donations to a building campaign. 

That's why McCready hands over monetary gifts it receives to the Nonprofit Partner Fund. The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, in turn, pools those donations in a common portfolio -- much like a mutual fund.  According to the Community Foundation's annual report, it had investments and securities with a fair market value of $68.4 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007.

Charitable organizations like McCready benefit because the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore manages their funds for growth in value with goal of keeping pace with the rate of inflation and historically, much higher. Investment management fees are just 1% annually. Those fees cover investment costs, staff services, preparation of an annual report, an annual audit and the services of an investment consulting firm. The latter monitors the performance of over a dozen investment managers.

In addition to managing McCready’s funds to achieve growth in value, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore provides independent oversight and controls distribution of the money back to McCready, assuring that it is used for the purpose donors intended.