You may be wondering about the endowment fund- where the money comes from, what is the process to decide how the money is spent and how has the money been spent recently?
The endowment fund is NOT spent on budgeted operations like salaries and office supplies. It is available, upon request, for special projects that benefit the congregation. There is a form that is completed by the sponsor and turned over to the endowment committee who read it, get clarification as needed, then passes it onto the Board of Trustees for final approval. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or the sponsoring committee to schedule the event, complete the necessary paperwork, advertise the event, recruit any necessary helpers, clean up, to basically run the event.
The current fund has been financed through legacy gifts from individuals and financial tributes usually given at a memorial service in sympathy cards or via information in obituaries. Please consider including MVUUF in your legacy plans, your will or beneficiary assignments. Inform your family of your wish to complete your current year pledge commitment and to donate a gift and/or memorials to the MVUUF endowment fund or to specific projects/programs such as the music committee or OWL or Soul Matters.
The endowment committee has drafted an Endowment sample letter you could use to communicate your wishes to your family.
The money is currently invested by the UUA, along with endowment funds from other UU congregations.
Before the COVID pandemic threw everything into disarray, the endowment fund had funded a musical evening with Opera students and some staff training.
If you have an idea or a project you think would benefit our community you can talk to a committee member or ask our office manager for an endowment fund form which you can complete and return to the office or a committee member or a board member.
Thank you for being a part of our community.
If you have any questions contact Holly Bruce who is the chair of the endowment committee.