Help maintain operating independence – MEFMI is currently about 50% donor funded with the balance coming from member countries. A decline in donor funding would cause a significant problem if there is no fallback position.  A reliable cash flow from an investment portfolio can keep the business going during such periods of shocks.

Provide operational stability – MEFMI relies on funding from its financial partners based on 5-year cycles/phases. These funds may not be renewed or their availability may decline at the end of a cycle. An endowment fund would release some of the pressure to continually find new funding sources or to have another fund raising campaign.

Provide a margin of excellence – an endowment would enable the Institute to do some of the things it otherwise would not be able to do. For example, the Institute would be able to attract world-class experts to carry out its capacity building mandate because of the facilities and packages it would offer.