Endowment Fund

Endowment Fund Endowment Fund Mission: The St. Paul Lutheran Church Ministry Endowment Fund has been created to provide special funding beyond the church’s annual budget for expanding ministries within the church, for making capital expenditures, and for humanitarian and charitable needs at a local, national and international level. History: In early 2005 St. Paul Lutheran Church was blessed with a bequest from the estate of Messina Howard, a friend but not a member of St. Paul. This substantial bequest has enabled St. Paul to not only strengthen its ministry programs in 2005, the year that St. Paul received the bequest, but to establish a St. Paul Ministry Endowment Fund (Fund). This Fund is intended to perpetuate the ability of St. Paul to provide future funding for its ministry work that goes beyond funding provided by the congregation’s annual budget. Using the Messina Howard bequest as a catalyst for the creation of the Fund, it is anticipated that in the years to come congregational members and friends of St. Paul will contribute additional capital to enhance the Fund’s ability to provide supplemental support for St. Paul ministry programs. Management of the Fund: The St. Paul Ministry Endowment Fund is managed by a Board consisting of 5 members appointed by the church council (Board). The Board is responsible for carrying out duties as described in the St. Paul Ministry Endowment Fund Bylaws approved by the congregation in January of 2006 and updated in November of 2007. The Board receives Endowment Fund Grant Applications from St. Paul committees and organizations for review. Based on published approval criteria the Board makes recommendations to the church council for final review and approval. If approved by the council the Board notifies the committee-organization of the council’s decision and provides guidance for submission of requests for fund distributions. The church treasurer is responsible for (a) making distributions from the Fund that are in accordance with the provisions of the approved Grant (b) making annual benevolence distributions from the Fund as defined in the Fund’s bylaws, and (c) reporting Fund distributions to the council. Support for our Community: As indicated in St. Paul’s Mission Statement “We are a church that serves the needs of the world and sharing the good news of God’s love and grace through Jesus Christ”. The Fund has as its guiding principle a desire to serve the congregation by providing resources to expand ministries within and outside St. Paul to further the work of the church. Whether a Fund grant is for humanitarian purposes or to spread the word of Christ in our community the Fund stands ready to support the ministry work of St. Paul over and above the resources available through its operating budget. How to Apply for a Grant: Each January a percentage of the endowment fund’s assets, as identified by the Endowment Fund Bylaws, are made available for Endowment Grant funding for the New Year. It is at this point that applications for current year Fund grant applications can be submitted consistent with the submission guidelines as described in the application. Click here to open the Endowment Fund Application. It is anticipated that most applications for grant funding will be made by one or more of St. Paul’s standing committees. However organizations and individuals may apply for funding by enlisting support from a sponsoring St. Paul standing committee or committees. Grant applications are available from a Board member, committee chairperson, this website, or the church office. Completed Grant applications are to be submitted directly to a Board member or placed in the Board’s mail folder in the church narthex. If funding is time sensitive be aware that applications take a minimum of 60 days for processing. St. Paul Grants are intended to be a one time gift for a specific purpose. Funding for ongoing projects should be provided by the applicable committee’s annual operating budget. Endowment funding of ongoing ministry programs may be authorized by the council if adequate committee budgetary funding is not available. Contributing to the Fund: There are many ways that individuals can support and contribute to the Ministry Endowment Fund of St. Paul. Life Income Agreements Charitable Gift Annuity Charitable Remainder Trust Bequests Outright Gifts (cash, stocks, bonds, assignment of life insurance policy) For accounting reasons and because needs change from time to time it is requested that all gifts into the Endowment Fund be unspecified or unrestricted as to their use. If you would like to make an outright gift of cash you can do so by sending a check to St. Paul with a note that it is to be applied to the St. Paul Ministry Endowment Fund. For gifts other than cash you may wish to speak with your attorney, financial planner, insurance agent, St. Paul’s Treasurer or a member of the Endowment Fund Board. More information about the fund: If you would like more information about the Fund, or if you would like to speak to someone directly, the members of the Endowment Board are available to answer questions about the Funds operation and to provide you with information on how you can leave your legacy to St. Paul. You may e-mail the questions to the address below. Contact: 865-982-4285 splchurch@bellsouth.net
St. Paul's Mission Statement We, the congregation of Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Maryville, are Empowered by the Holy Spirit to be disciples and to make disciples of all people for Christ
St. Paul Lutheran Church 429 Sandy Springs Road Maryville, TN 37803 865 982 4285 splchurch@bellsouth.net Questions concerning this web site webmaster@stpaulmaryville.org