Permanently Restricted Assets

Permanently Restricted Assets

Permanently restricted assets are funds of a nonprofit organization that must be used in designated ways and whose principal cannot be touched. Donations of such assets are not uncommon, as individuals, groups or organizations making the donations may have certain preferences as to how the assets donated are used by the nonprofit entity. For example, an individual or organization may donate a large chunk of real estate to a nonprofit entity, such as a public university, with the restriction that the property only be used to house scientific research labs in perpetuity. Permanently restricted assets are funds of a nonprofit organization that must be used in designated ways and whose principal cannot be touched. The third type, permanently restricted assets, are usually related to a particularly large donation, the donor of which a majority of the time will specify the purpose of the money.

What are Permanently Restricted Assets

Permanently restricted assets are funds of a nonprofit organization that must be used in designated ways and whose principal cannot be touched. The income that the principal amount earns goes toward funding the stated wishes of the donor(s). Donations of such assets are not uncommon, as individuals, groups or organizations making the donations may have certain preferences as to how the assets donated are used by the nonprofit entity.

BREAKING DOWN Permanently Restricted Assets

When accepted, donations are classified as unrestricted, temporarily restricted and permanently restricted. These assets are broken down on a nonprofit organization's Statement of Financial Position, which is equivalent to a balance sheet. Generally, the majority of donations to nonprofit organizations are unrestricted, which allows the organization to freely utilize the money as they see fit. Temporarily restricted assets come with strings attached — that is, they must be earmarked for certain purposes, but only until the expiration of the term stipulated by a donor.

The third type, permanently restricted assets, are usually related to a particularly large donation, the donor of which a majority of the time will specify the purpose of the money. The amount will be meaningful and intended to fund designated areas in perpetuity (i.e., "permanently"). A common type of permanently restricted asset is real estate. For example, an individual or organization may donate a large chunk of real estate to a nonprofit entity, such as a public university, with the restriction that the property only be used to house scientific research labs in perpetuity. The property can never be resold by the university for a capital gain.

Permanently Restricted Assets at the Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic, one of the nation's premier hospital and medical research institutions based in Minnesota, defines permanently restricted assets as "those for which donors require the principal of the gifts to be maintained in perpetuity and provide a permanent source of income." In Mayo Clinic's Statement of Financial Position, these assets totaled almost $1.4 billion, approximately 60% of which was set aside for research and around 15% for education.

Related terms:

501(c)

501(c) is a designation under the United States Internal Revenue Code that confers tax-exempt status to nonprofit organizations. read more

501(c)(3) Organization

A 501(c)(3) organization is a tax-exempt non-profit organization. Learn the requirements, costs, and pros and cons of setting up a 501(c)(3). read more

Balance Sheet : Formula & Examples

A balance sheet is a financial statement that reports a company's assets, liabilities and shareholder equity at a specific point in time. read more

Capital Gain

Capital gain refers to an increase in a capital asset's value and is considered to be realized when the asset is sold. read more

Donor-Advised Fund

A donor-advised fund is a private fund administered by a third party, created for managing charitable donations on behalf of an organization, family, or individual. read more

Federal Income Tax

In the U.S., the federal income tax is the tax levied by the IRS on the annual earnings of individuals, corporations, trusts, and other legal entities. read more

Government Grant

A government grant is a no-strings financial award given by the federal, state or local government to fund some type of beneficial project. read more

Principal

A principal is money lent to a borrower or put into an investment. It can also refer to a private company’s owner or a one of a deal’s chief participants. read more

Real Estate

Real estate refers broadly to the property, land, buildings, and air rights that are above land, and the underground rights below it. Learn more about real estate. read more

Restricted Asset

A restricted asset is cash or another item of monetary value that is set aside for a particular purpose, primarily for regulatory or contractual reasons. read more