All Endowment donors are honored in the Legacy Society, which includes permanent recognition on campus and acknowledgment at the annual Donor Appreciation Banquet. Founding Partners—those who give before December 2026—receive special recognition as the Endowment’s first circle of supporters, and transformational gifts may be celebrated with naming opportunities.

An endowment is a permanent fund where the principal is invested forever. Each year, only a portion of the earnings is used to support scholarships, programs, and student success.

While state funding supports the school’s core operations, it does not cover the full scope of what makes the Governor’s School for Agriculture exceptional. The Endowment ensures stability, flexibility, and long-term strength—independent of economic or legislative changes.

This permanent fund provides a financial foundation that:

• Safeguards the school’s future through steady, reliable earnings even when budgets tighten.

• Funds innovation and opportunity—scholarships, program growth, and hands-on learning that go beyond what state dollars can provide.

• Preserves independence and excellence, allowing the Foundation to invest strategically in the students, staff, and programs that define South Carolina’s agricultural legacy.

In short, state funding keeps the doors open. The Endowment keeps the mission thriving!

Every gift strengthens the Endowment. Cash gifts must be $1,000 minimum. Legacy Society recognition is extended to all donors who give through lifetime or planned gifts that help secure the school’s future.

Your gift becomes part of the Endowment’s permanent principal. Each year, a portion of its investment earnings—unless otherwise specified by the donor—supports scholarships, programs, and innovation, so what you plant today keeps growing tomorrow.

Each type of gift reflects a different way of planting seeds for lasting impact, all helping sustain the mission of the John de la Howe Foundation and the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture.

• Lifetime gifts allow you to make an impact now by transferring assets or investments while you’re living. They may include cash, stock, real estate, or other assets and can offer potential tax advantages while letting you witness your generosity at work.

• Planned gifts are arranged as part of your financial or estate plans, such as through a will, charitable trust, or gift annuity. They’re thoughtfully structured to extend your influence beyond your lifetime, ensuring your values continue to shape agricultural education for generations.

• Transformational gifts are significant contributions that create major, long-term change, often funding new facilities, endowed scholarships, or innovative programs. These gifts don’t just sustain our mission; they expand what’s possible for students, families, and the future of agriculture in South Carolina.

Together, these giving pathways offer meaningful ways to honor your story, steward your resources wisely, and help secure the future of America’s only residential public high school devoted to agriculture.