Zion Lutheran Church sanctuary - Dallas, Texas
Endowments for Congregations or Schools
How LFOT Can Assist Congregations and Schools in Endowment Fund Raising
By far the most important function of the Foundation is to encourage, educate, and facilitate gifts to endowments.
In fact, the key to building a successful endowment is the ability to gather additional gifts for that fund on a continuing basis. If only the income or growth from the money used to "seed" the endowment remains available, the endowment will only be able to fund so much no matter what type of investment return is generated.
It is in this area that the staff of the Lutheran Foundation of Texas is uniquely qualified to assist Congregations and schools in promoting the growth of their funds so that they can both fulfill and expand the purpose for which they were created.
For those congregations and schools who establish endowments with the Foundation, the staff can assist in promoting those funds in the following ways.
Customized Promotional Materials
For those churches who have endowments managed by the Foundation, our office can create custom or "tailor-made" materials about your fund(s) to help you promote your program. There is no cost for these items. Available materials include:
- Brochure (for display on your literature rack)
- Bulletin/newsletter announcements and inserts
- Newsletter articles
- Promotional letter to church members
- Poster (Note: some expense may be incurred)
- Recognition plaque on your endowment (for display)
- Memorial/tribute card and remittance envelope
Custom materials can be provided to you via e-mail, on disc or on hard copy as is appropriate.
LFOT Support Services
Additionally, the Foundation can provide counsel or personnel at no cost to assist in promoting your fund(s) in these ways:
- Sponsorship of an "Endowment Sunday" at your church, including Bible Class presentations, and seminars by Foundation staff members. In these programs, the Foundation will always customize its screen presentation and handouts so that they highlight your endowment. (For more information on presentations, see Wills, Estate and Gift Planning Seminars.)
- Help in organizing a special presentation to selected prospects who might have an interest in making a planned gift to the endowment.
- Visit "one-on-one" with prospects to discuss planned giving methods to support the fund. (See Estate and Gift Planning Consultation for Congregation Members.)
- Meet with attorneys, CPAs and other financial/estate advisors in your church to promote funds and other planned gifts to benefit the congregation. (See also For the Advisors.)
- Advise on promoting funds through your stewardship program, voters' meeting reports, and other venues.
- Provide guidance on developing a comprehensive plan to promote your fund(s) through a specially-designed Planned Giving Campaign/Planned Group Society.
Help in designing a comprehensive promotion program
Of all the services the Foundation can provide to those whose funds we manage, the best is assistance in designing a comprehensive program to help promote your fund(s). Typically, this can be mapped out for a 1-2 hour period and includes a combination of using printed promotional materials, presentations and personal visits in accordance with your goals and objectives. Everything is done to fit your circumstance and needs. Again, there is no cost for this service.
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Please contact us for more information.