Endowments
A major role of the Foundation is to assist local churches and conference agencies in establishing permanent endowment committees and funds for the purpose of ensuring that God’s ministries will continue for generations to come.
Churches may establish endowment programs to fund specific ministries, missions, scholarships, facility maintenance and improvements and/or general (undesignated) funds, which can be tapped as special needs arise. Types of funds vary according to specific needs of individual churches.
Foundation staff will meet with local churches, free of charge, to help establish a permanent endowment program, and frequently provide materials and workshops on such planned giving subjects as wills and charitable estate planning. Likewise, they are available to meet, on a confidential basis, with individual donors to discuss opportunities whereby personal asset accumulations may be used to benefit the individual and the ministries and churches of the United Methodist Church .
Through an Investment Management Agreement, the Foundation will invest endowment funds or other permanent funds on behalf of churches or related institutions. The Foundation offers a range of investment options, including a professionally managed stock fund, balanced fund and income fund.
Further, the Foundation as a not-for-profit organization is legally authorized to serve as trustee in the administration of charitable trusts created for the benefit of a United Methodist institution. Trustee services include professional management of trust assets; record keeping and reporting, accounting and regular payment of income to the donor or other beneficiaries.
The Foundation provides Charitable Gift Annuities to individuals who wish to give a meaningful charitable gift to their church and, at the same time, retain the security of regular income payments over their lifetime.
Finally, the Foundation, through the Mustard Seed Society, will assist churches in recognizing and thanking donors. The Foundation encourages churches to recognize every individual who makes a planned gift of any size by inducting them into the Mustard Seed Society. Each donor receives a lapel pin and a certificate signed by the Bishop, the President of the Foundation and the recipient’s Pastor.
Download a copy of the Foundation’s Planned Giving Handbook, a step-by-step guide to how churches may establish a permanent endowment program and our companion handbook, Marketing Your Endowment Program.
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