Inklingo

How to Say "endowment" in Spanish

English → Spanish

fondo

/fon-doh//ˈfondo/

nounB1general
Use 'fondo' when referring to the general pool of money or capital intended for a specific purpose, often for an institution or project.
A large, pink ceramic piggy bank sitting on a table, with many gold coins spilling out of the slot on its back.

Examples

Necesitamos recaudar fondos para la nueva biblioteca.

We need to raise funds for the new library.

El gobierno estableció un fondo de emergencia para las víctimas.

The government established an emergency fund for the victims.

Invirtió su dinero en un fondo de pensiones.

He invested his money in a pension fund.

Often Plural: 'Fondos'

When talking about money or financial resources, you'll almost always see this word in its plural form, 'fondos'.

fundación

foon-dah-SYOHN/fun.daˈθjon/

nounB1general
Use 'fundación' when referring to an established organization or institution that is itself endowed with funds to carry out its mission.
A brightly colored scene showing smiling volunteers handing out supplies to community members in front of a substantial, welcoming building marked with a universal symbol of aid.

Examples

La fundación ayuda a niños con problemas de visión.

The foundation helps children with vision problems.

Donó una gran suma de dinero a la fundación de arte.

He donated a large sum of money to the art foundation.

Es fácil ser voluntario en esta fundación.

It is easy to volunteer at this foundation.

Feminine Noun Rule

All nouns in Spanish that end in -ción (like nación, información, situación) are feminine, so you must use 'la' with them.

Fondo vs. Fundación

Learners often confuse 'fondo' and 'fundación' by using 'fundación' to mean the money itself, instead of the organization. Remember that 'fondo' refers to the money (funds), while 'fundación' refers to the entity that manages those funds.

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