Endowment Team

The University Lutheran Chapel Endowment is a ministry of the Chapel through which members and friends can continue their contribution to the ministry of this congregation and its mission to the community and to the world.  The Endowment Fund Committee is directly elected by the Congregation.  The Committee invests the Endowment’s assets both prudently and with a view toward maximizing the return on investments so as to provide the monetary means for the support of the ministry of the Church. The Committee also accepts, reviews, and makes decisions on applications for grants from the Endowment Fund for:
  • the mission and ministry of the Chapel directly,
  • community (Bay Area) and Sierra Pacific Synod mission support,
  • national and global mission support, and
  • urgent needs.

Considerations for the approval of a grant request include but are not limited to the:

  • compatibility with and relevance to the Chapel’s faith-based mission;
  • interests of the Church, such as religious, justice, and social issues;
  • impact of the grant, including whether matching funds are raised; and
  • context of all grants made during a given budget cycle.

The typical range of a grant is from $500 to $2,000.

Prior funding does not guarantee a future grant.

  • A grant application (PDF version) is available here.
  • A grant application (MSWord version) is available here.
  • Current guidelines used by the committee can be found here.
  • A brochure describing ways in which you can make gifts to the endowment is available here.

 

What types of grants have been approved?

In 2012, the Endowment Fund was able to provide grants totaling $13,742 to the following organizations and projects:

  • Anti Homophobia Legal Clinic in El Salvador                             $2,000.00
  • Community Garden for Undocumented Workers                            $750.00
  • Campaign for an American Dream Walk (CAD)                         $1,000.00
  • YES Magazine Distribution                                                                    $120.00
  • ELCA East Bay New Mission                                                             $2,000.00
  • Lutheran Campus Ministry Builds                                                        $500.00
  • ULC Fair Trade Mercado bags                                                               $372.00
  • Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary                                              $500.00
  • Remember Them Monument                                                               $1,000.00
  • Dorothy Day House                                                                                   $750.00
  • ULC Internship Fund                                                                                $750.00
  • East Bay Interfaith Immigration Conference                                  $2,000.00
  • Social Justice Support for LVC, EBSC, LPF                                     $2,000.00

In 2011, the Endowment Fund was able to provide grants totaling $13,250 to the following organizations and projects:

  • SHARE – Women’s rights advocacy (Approved 7/7)                  $2,000.00
  • Campus Ministry Student Evangelists (5/25)                               $2,000.00
  • Sara Schultz Seminary Matching Gift (7/7)                                   $1,500.00
  • Center for Bible and Social Justice (10/26)                                       $750.00
  • Chapel AV System (10/26)                                                                 $3,000.00
  • Workers hardship fund – Castlewood CC (10/26)                        $1,000.00
  • ELM Proclaim campaign (Approved 2/11)                                    $2,000.00
  • SPSYC Rwanda Delegation (7/7)                                                      $1,000.00

Why does the Chapel have an Endowment Fund?

Many congregations receive at least one large gift that the donor intends as a lasting benefit for ministry, but are often unprepared to receive it.  Some congregations find that, in the absence of a plan for its use, the gift discourages other financial support and good stewardship.  A carefully designed Endowment Fund can minimize these potential problems, and both anticipates and invites legacy gifts.  An Endowment Fund can also help revitalize ministries, as concerns beyond the local congregation can be supported and expanded in new ways.

The Chapel’s Endowment Fund is designed to be a perpetual fund.  To date, it is funded with generous gifts received from the estates of Ruby Falk (Bennett Falk’s mother), and beloved Chapel members, Sandra Ruth Olson, Marjorie K. Bauman, and Nancy Lee Peterson.

The Fund Committee consists of three members elected annually by the congregation to three-year terms, the Chapel Pastor, and the Council Treasurer, who serves without voice or vote.  They are charged with encouraging, receiving and celebrating gifts to the Fund, investing the Fund’s assets, and making annual distributions of no more than five (5) percent of the market value of the Fund’s assets.  The intent of the distributions is to fund programs and ministries beyond those supported through regular offerings.  Distributions could be made to extraordinary programs, projects or initiatives within the congregation, or to special projects in the local community, the synod, or elsewhere in the church or the world.

In 2012, the three elected members of the Committee are:  Chuck Jaeger, Jennifer Afdahl-Rice, and Tom Ray.  Additionally, Luis Ramirez (treasurer) and the Rev. Jeff Johnson(pastor) are members because of their offices at the Chapel.  

The Bylaw that created the Fund is available by contacting endowment@ulcberkeley.org