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Investors may invest in Term Certificates of one, two, three, or four years’ maturity, which earn a fixed rate of interest.

Churches, nonprofits, families, and individuals (18 years or older), who reside in Georgia and have historical ties to the Methodist Church, can invest in the Certificate Program.

Yes, a $5,000 minimum investment per certificate is required.

Interest rates, set by the Foundation’s Investment and Loan Committees on a monthly basis, are determined by considering the rate of interest earned from current loans, market conditions, and rates of similar investments.

Yes, at least 30 days before the maturity date, the Foundation will notify investors that they can either redeem the certificates or extend them.

Although investments in the Certificate Program are not insured, they are safeguarded through strict investment and lending policies, strong board leadership, and competent staff.

1. Review the Offering Circular, which includes investment objectives, risks, and other information.
2. Complete an Application to Purchase a Certificate and mail it with your check payable to the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. Our mailing address is PO Box 922087, Peachtree Corners, GA 30010-2087

A Donor-Advised Fund is an irrevocable gift to the Georgia United Methodist Foundation to establish an account you name. You, as the donor, can choose from our wide range of investment fund options designed to meet both long-and short-term investment goals. In addition, account advisors have the privilege of making grant recommendations to support public charities such as your United Methodist church and other related ministries close to your heart.

Donor-Advised Funds are appropriate for investors who want to:

• Make an immediate, irrevocable gift
• Take an income tax deduction in the current year and deploy the contribution in future years
• Assist one or more United Methodist churches or ministries over multiple time periods
• Establish a charitable fund that will grow over time and provide grants in the future

You make an irrevocable gift to the Georgia United Methodist Foundation to establish an account you name. After establishing the account, you may designate yourself and or others as advisors. As an advisor, you have the privilege of making grant recommendations to support public charities such as your United Methodist church and other related ministries close to your heart.

Yes. The minimum contribution to open a Donor-Advised Fund with the Georgia United Methodist Foundation is $10,000. The minimum grant recommendation is $500.

No. The Georgia United Methodist Foundation has been assisting donor-advised fund clients in this way for years.

1. Obtain a copy of a Donor-Advised Fund Application by contacting the Foundation at 770.449.6726 or info@gumf.org.
2. Complete the Donor-Advised Fund Application and mail it to the Georgia United Methodist Foundation, PO Box 922087, Peachtree Corners, GA 30010-2087. The Foundation will establish your account and be in touch to coordinate the receipt of your contribution.

No. An individual cannot receive a grant or distribution from the Donor-Advised Fund established with the Foundation. Only churches and charities the Internal Revenue Service recognizes as a “qualified charity” under code 501(c)(3) can receive a grant from your donor-advised fund. However, the Foundation does offer Life Income Gifts such as Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts, and Charitable Remainder Unitrusts that we would be happy to discuss with you.

You may make Donor-Advised Fund grant recommendations by contacting the Foundation at 770.449.6726 or info@gumf.org.

You can designate a family member or another representative to be a successor and advise the Foundation on future distributions. Your estate plan can also instruct the Foundation concerning a distribution plan or can establish a permanent endowment to support your United Methodist church or related ministries.

Yes. The Georgia United Methodist Foundation manages and grows $236 million in investments and certificates on behalf of Georgia-based Methodist churches, nonprofits, districts, and conferences. The Foundation, in partnership with Wespath Institutional Investments, delivers advanced faith-based financial solutions that elevate the mission and ministry of the church. This partnership enables the Foundation to offer Georgia United Methodists access to a respected team of Wespath advisors who manage one of the largest reporting faith-based pension funds in the world. Wespath and its subsidiaries manage over $24 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022 (including $5 billion for more than 100 institutional clients). The Foundation and Wespath relationship enable Georgia United Methodists to be good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to them by God while living out a strong Christian witness through socially responsible investment practices.

The Foundation’s value proposition is rooted in our purpose and mission, which is not replicated by any other financial institution available to Methodists in Georgia. The Foundation’s purpose is to partner with Georgia-based Methodist congregations and organizations in direct support of the ministries and mission of the church. In this way, the Foundation is a true ministry partner.

Yes. Three members of the Foundation’s staff are dedicated to providing services for our investment clients. In addition, the Foundation partners with Wespath Institutional Investments, which manages the I Series of funds and provides institutional investment services through shared and tenured Wespath investment team members. The Wespath team exhibits considerable expertise, and their leadership team brings the strength of capability and service to our clients. Importantly, Wespath Institutional Investments is a not-for-profit subsidiary of Wespath Benefits and Investments, a general agency of The United Methodist Church. In operation since 1908, Wespath manages one of the largest reporting faith-based pension funds in the world.

Yes. The Foundation establishes an IMA for each account.

BNY Mellon is responsible for safeguarding and administering Wespath Institutional Investments’ assets. BNY Mellon strikes a daily net asset value (NAV) for the funds and provides final fund-level returns on a monthly basis. In addition, Wespath has obtained GIPS (Global Investment Performance Standards) compliance and verification since January 1, 2016, and Wespath completed a SOC1 audit starting in 2021.

The Foundation’s staff and Board of Trustees monitor diligence (i.e., regulatory, compliance, staffing changes, operations, business continuity, cybersecurity, etc.) related to Wespath Institutional Investments on an ongoing basis. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees, through the Investment Committee, monitors the relationship with Wespath Institutional Investments through direct engagement. Members of the Foundation’s Investment Committee include individuals with investment expertise.

The definition of investment risk is unique to each client. Wespath Institutional Investments and the Foundation work closely with clients to understand and define any portfolio risks based on their goals and objectives. This includes managing the client’s spending policy, determining liquidity needs, and considering potential risk-related covenants. For each portfolio (managed account), a tracking error risk budget is determined from which the investment team decides how to allocate the risk budget to high potential strategies and passively manage market sectors with low return potential. There are both “qualitative” risks (e.g., macro, manager-specific, ESG, etc.) and “quantitative” (measurable) risks (tracking error). This approach is taken into account for both the Multiple Asset Fund strategy, and the Foundation’s Standard Investment Model strategy.

The Foundation and Wespath Institutional Investments charge a competitive and reasonable fee. Importantly, the Foundation and Wespath Institutional Investments do NOT have any hidden fees, and no additional fees are ever assessed. Fees assessed elevate and advance the ministries of the church through the Foundation and Wespath Institutional Investments in various ways, including through the Foundation’s educational and other resources.

Yes. The Foundation’s clients can access statements and fund performance information online by clicking here.

Yes. The Foundation offers a comprehensive performance report for each account. Additionally, members of the Foundation’s staff and members of the Wespath Institutional Investments team are available to meet with clients directly.

Yes. The Foundation offers complete accounting services for all Institutional Investment accounts, including individual fund accounting.

We generally offer construction loan terms up to 1 year. We also offer permanent loan terms of up to 20 years. The minimum loan amount is $25,000. For current rates, please contact the Foundation at 770.449.6726

We offer loans for a variety of projects including, but not limited to, the following:

• Construction of a new building.
• Purchase of a parsonage or an existing building.
• Land acquisitions to expand a church’s ministry.
• Renovations to the sanctuary, fellowship hall, or another church-related building.
• Ministry expansions such as a preschool.
• Refinancing of another institution’s loan.

There is no penalty for prepayments or early payoff. However, prepayments must be in a minimum amount of $1,000.

We do not have balloon payments. We adjust the rate every five years to the current rate the Foundation offers at the time.

We do not charge points, just standard closing costs, which generally include attorney and recording fees.

Generally, our loans are less restrictive with lower costs than other lenders. We make loans only to churches and church-related entities. We understand church finances better than others.

We are always available to consult with churches on future growth strategies, capital campaigns, or challenges they may be experiencing.

Our Certificate Program, which offers 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year fixed-rate investments, provides funding for loans to churches and nonprofits.

For more information, please: 

• Download our Loans with the Foundation brochure here.
• Contact Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley, Foundation President and CEO, at 770.449.6726 or elizabethch@gumf.org or Lori Tucker, Foundation Loan Administrator, at 770.449.6726 or ltucker@gumf.org. 
• *The minimum loan amount is $25,000. All rates are subject to change without notice. Please contact the Foundation at 770.449.6726 for current rates.

The Foundation’s goal is to educate you on how you might plan your affairs to benefit your family, as well as United Methodist churches and ministries that are close to your heart. The Foundation offers educational opportunities focused on planning giving for individuals, families, and groups. Please contact the Foundation at 770-449-6726 or info@gumf.org to learn more.

Yes. The Foundation offers charitable gift annuities to help elevate and advance the mission of the churches and nonprofits we serve and to help Methodists across Georgia be good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to them by God. A charitable gift annuity is a contract (Charitable Gift Annuity Agreement) between an individual donor or couple and the Foundation. The Charitable Gift Annuity Agreement outlines several important terms. As a donor, you make a gift (at least $25,000) using cash, securities, or possibly other assets. In return, you take a partial tax deduction for your donation. Additionally, you receive a fixed stream of income from the Foundation for the rest of your life. (A portion of this annual income may be considered tax-free). At the time of death, the remainder is distributed to a church or nonprofit as directed by the donor through the Charitable Gift Annuity Agreement. Please contact the Foundation at 770-449-6726 or info@gumf.org to learn more.

Yes. The Foundation offers Charitable Remainder Trusts / Charitable Remainder Unitrusts to help elevate and advance the mission of the churches and nonprofits we serve and to help Methodists across Georgia be good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to them by God. A charitable remainder trust (CRT) or unitrust (CRUT) pays a percentage of the value of the trust each year to an individual. The payments generally must equal at least 5% of the fair market value of the assets, valued annually. At the time of death, the remainder is distributed to a church or nonprofit as directed by the donor through the CRT/CRUT Agreement. Please contact the Foundation at 770-449-6726 or info@gumf.org to learn more.

Yes. The Foundation maintains a list of known and trusted attorneys, and the team is always glad to make an
introduction. Please contact the Foundation at 770-449-6726 or info@gumf.org to learn more.

The Foundation is committed to financially empowering future generations as they discern God’s call in the world. We have awarded over 900 scholarships totaling nearly $800,000 since 2011, thanks to generous donors and our partnership with the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars program administered by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation.

When you set up a $25,000 endowment fund with the Foundation, your investment will generate a $1,000 scholarship each year! Plus, your $1,000 gift has the potential to be quadrupled through the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars program when matched with a $1,000 award from the student’s local United Methodist church, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation, and participating United Methodist-related schools.

An endowment is a financial donation to a nonprofit organization like the Georgia United Methodist Foundation that is invested in perpetuity to establish a permanent source of income to support a program or ministry close to the donor’s heart. The goal is to preserve the principal or original value of the gift while using the income on the investment to fund an annual distribution.

You will need $25,000 to create an endowment with the Foundation that will generate a $1,000 annual scholarship in perpetuity. Each year through 2025, the first three donors who give $20,000 will receive a challenge match of $5,000 from an anonymous donor. You can fund your gift at once or pledge over three to five years.

Yes. You will need to sign an endowment agreement with the Foundation that identifies the endowment’s name, its terms, and the fund’s purpose.

Yes. When you establish an endowment with the Foundation, you can name it for yourself or in honor or memory of your family, your friend, your pastor, your Sunday school class, your church, or even your favorite ministry. It’s your choice.

Yes. The Foundation offers free individual meetings for United Methodist members to discuss effective planned giving strategies for creating a legacy that also benefits your family.

Yes. You can make a gift of any size to the Foundation’s Scholarship Endowment by mailing a check payable to the Georgia United Methodist Foundation, PO Box 922087, Peachtree Corners, GA 30010-2087.

All endowment assets are kept under the watchful eyes of the Foundation’s Investment Committee, competent staff, and Wespath Institutional Investments, an agency of The United Methodist Church. All funds are invested in a socially responsible and sustainable manner according to The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church.

In addition to establishing a United Methodist Dollars for Scholars scholarship, you may also set up an endowed scholarship for Georgia Methodist students not attending Methodist colleges and non-Methodist students attending Methodist colleges and universities. If you have any questions, please contact the Foundation 770.449.6726 or info@gumf.org.