"To donate" simply means "to give money." It is the ordinary, everyday word. "To endow" often means a specific kind of donation. It means a very large donation. The donor does not expect the charity to spend it. The donor expects the charity to invest it, and use the investment income. "Endow" is a less common word; do not use "endow" unless you are sure you really mean it. Examples: 1) I donated $25 to the amateur theatre group to help pay for the costs of the costumes for their new play. 2) "In 2012, local businessman William Boomhower donated $5 million to endow a college scholarship fund for female students pursuing music degrees. For our fourth year, we are once again pleased to announce the award of the $5,000 Boomhower Scholarship. This year, the award goes to Kayla Gomes who is planning to attend the New England Conservatory..."

To endow is specifically to make a gift of an income or land. To donate is more general - it could be a gift of clothing to a charity for example. Endow can also be used in the context of a talent or ability - she is endowed with a great skill at playing the piano.

Endow: > To furnish with money or its equivalent, as a permanent fund for support; to make pecuniary provision for; to settle an income upon; especially, to furnish with dower; as, to endow a wife; to endow a public institution. > To enrich or furnish with anything of the nature of a gift (as a quality or faculty); — followed by with, rarely by of; as man is endowed by his Maker with reason; to endow with privileges or benefits. > To bestow freely. > To be furnished with something naturally. Example: She was'' ''endowed'' ''with a beautiful voice. Donate: > To make a donation; to give away something of value to support or contribute towards a cause or for the benefit of another. Example: She donates 100 dollars to Red Crescent every year. He donated an etching from his own collection to the new art gallery.