Endowment Resources
Tools and Resources for Building Your Church’s Lasting Legacy
Plan Your Church’s Sustainable Future
Planning a thriving future for your church is a crucial part of ministry. The Foundation is here to guide you through the process of leaving a legacy for the next generation of disciples.
While each endowment is structured differently, the tools below speak to the intended function and sustainability of a well run endowment.
No amount is too small and it’s never too late to begin. We’d love to visit you and begin creating your endowment today!
Steps to Establishing an Endowment Program
Your church council, in consultation with your church’s Board of Trustees, should establish an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the impact, ability and desire to establish a Permanent Endowment Program. The Ad Hoc Committee should include respected, trusted members of your church who want to see their church’s stewardship vision expand.
Each church endowment is unique and specific steps may differ based on the size of your fund, plans for development, etc. At this stage, your Ad Hoc Committee should meet with the Georgia United Methodist Foundation to determine the proper course of action for your church.
If the Ad Hoc Committee agrees that establishing an endowment is the desired course of action, the Committee will then need to create a Church Endowment Statement and Charge Conference Resolution establishing a Permanent Endowment, that will be submitted to the Church Council.
The Ad Hoc Committee submits the vision statement and the Charge Conference Resolution for approval.*
If approved, the slate of Permanent Endowment Committee members or trustees will need to be submitted to the Charge Conference for election.
Once the Charge Conference has approved the resolution, the work of creating, governing and maintaining the endowment can begin.
*We are grateful to work with all those of Wesleyan heritage and understand you may have polity different from the UMC. We trust that the appropriate policy has been followed for the establishment of your endowment.
The Work of An Endowment Committee
- Bring the Foundation to the church to meet with interested parties and discuss investment policies and specific investment funds
- Establish named accounts for each endowed ministry, program, and need
- Determine how to distribute income and/or to establish a spending policy
- Begin a communications and promotions plan, including a donor recognition policy, a kick-off event, and educational planning for the congregation.
Useful Tools
Resources for Establishing Your Endowment
Resources for Operating Your Endowment
Resources for Keeping Your Endowment Top of Mind
“If you plan well and institute future-oriented policies, an endowment can be an important part of building a healthy financial future for your church.”
Dr. Lovett H. Weems Sr. Senior Consultant, Lewis Center for Church Leadership
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