We are excited to offer a unique opportunity to place a brick in the courtyard area between the narthex and the community life center (CLC). Available for purchase are engraved, customized 4×8 bricks. Bricks are $150 for a 4×8 paver. You have 18 characters per line with a 3 line maximum to inscribe your special message. Fill out an order form here!
These bricks can be in celebration of special occasions, weddings, anniversaries, births, someone who served in the military, your favorite verse, in honor of family or friends or to memorialize an occasion or a loved one.
Help build a foundation for the courtyard and also provide long term stability for the church that all of us love. Net proceeds go toward the St. Mark’s Enduring GIfts Foundation general endowment. For more information on the St. Mark’s Enduring Gifts Foundation and its endowment fund, please visit www.stmarksmidlo.com/support/endowment.
The St. Mark’s Enduring Gifts Foundation is a limited liability company established under the 501c3 (charity) status of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Its purpose is to provide enduring resources for the strengthening and extension of the programs, ministries, and facilities of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
An endowment is any asset donated to and for the perpetual benefit of a non-profit institution. The donation is usually made with the requirement that the principal remain intact and money earned from investing the principal be used for a specific purpose. In the broadest sense, an endowment is a donation that is given to a non-profit institution on the condition that it is used for the benefit of that organization. Most endowments are designed to provide a permanent source of income by keeping the original amount invested and using the accrued income from dividends for its charitable purpose.
The purpose of the St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Endowment Fund is to provide a permanent, long-term resource to carry out the ministry and mission of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, consistent with the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church as set forth in the Book of Discipline and with the ecumenical objectives of the United Methodist Church.
All gifts to the Fund go toward an endowment fund of permanent duration. A donor has the assurance that his or her gift will be a lasting contribution to the mission of the Church.
The endowment fund is currently unrestricted in nature, meaning that the Church may use the earnings on investment in the area of greatest need (mission, ministry, facilities etc), in accordance with its mission. A donor wishing to endow gifts for a specific purpose are encouraged to contact the Church for more information.
Permanent funds provide a stable source of continuing income for the Church and allow its members to develop long-range plans for the future. The earnings may also provide the resources for special ministries. In difficult economic times, income from permanent funds can sustain the Church and empower its ministry.
There are many ways to contribute to the Endowment Fund. Some of the more popular methods of giving are these: cash donations, stocks and bonds, memorial gifts, gifts in honor of a special person, retirement plan proceeds, life insurance, and bequests in a will or trust. Contributions intended for the Endowment Fund should be made expressly to the “St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Enduring Gifts Foundation Endowment Fund”.
The St. Marks Enduring Gifts Foundation Board consists of a Director, Assistant Director, a representative of the Trustees, a representative of the Finance Committee, and the Chair of the Church Guiding Council. The Director and members of the Enduring Gifts Foundation will be elected by St. Mark’s Charge Conference. The Enduring Gifts Foundation will report to the Finance Committee.
The St. Mark’s Enduring Gifts Foundation Board is responsible for the investment and use of the Fund, with oversight provided by the Finance Team and Guiding Council. The assets must be invested in accordance with the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. Currently, the funds are invested through Davenport & Co. LLC.
The Enduring Gifts Foundation will recommend to the Finance committee the amount to be expended from the fund. The Guiding Council, acting on advice from the Finance committee, will decide the amount of income from the Enduring Gifts Foundation to be spent during the upcoming fiscal year.
The Enduring Gifts Foundation Board will meet at least quarterly review progress.
Bart Blanks, Director 804-651-6963 bblanks@hotmail.com
Randy Godwin, Assistant Director randall.godwin@westrock.com
Members of the Committee would be happy to answer your questions about the Endowment Fund or put you in contact with someone who can.
Tax laws play an important role in a person’s charitable giving. We urge you to discuss the tax advantages of a planned gift with your tax or legal advisor. Significant income tax and estate tax savings may be realized from a contribution to the SMEGF Endowment Fund.