GIFTS & GIVING
Your gift to the Foundation never stops giving.
"As often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith." (Galatians 6:10)
GlFTS & GIVING
Gifts and donations provided to the Foundation are permanent. Donated funds are invested, and distributions are made annually only up to an amount that protects the integrity of the corpus, or principal, of the fund into perpetuity. This is what makes giving to the Foundation such a powerful force for good . Your gift is your legacy to the First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa and will continue giving, forever.
Make a donation now. Thanks!!
How Can I Give?
Donations have made in many ways. A Foundation Board member will be happy to talk with you about creative ways people have made donations. Some of the most common gift types are:
Estate Planning: The traditional way Foundations have been funded are with gifts made by a Donor from their estate after they pass away. By including the Foundation in one’s will or living trust, a Donor retains control over the funds while they are alive and may need the funds, but the Foundation receives a gift upon settlement of the Donor’s estate. The gift may take the form of cash, a donated IRA account, an insurance policy’s benefit payment, real estate, shares of stocks, bonds or mutual funds or some other asset. If you notify the Foundation that it is included as part of your estate planning, you automatically become a member of the Legacy Society (see below).
Gifts in Honor: Donors mark important life events by making a donation in honor of loved ones to the Foundation. When a child is born, when a grandchild is christened, when a wedding takes place in the family, when a memorable anniversary (10, 25, 40, 50 years of love) is celebrated, what better way to mark that occasion that to make a gift to the Foundation that will outlast us all and continue doing good.
Gifts in Memory: When a friend or relative passes away, it is an emotional time when good times are fondly recalled and the past relived. Relationships evolve into memories. Like a photo left on the mantel, a gift to the Foundation in honor of a special person in your life keeps their spirit alive in the present and on into the future.
The Miracle of 1854: The First United Methodist Church was established in 1854. The Miracle of 1854 giving program was developed so that people could make small donations of $18.54 monthly on a regular basis and thus contribute to the growth of the Foundation and its work. It was especially designed as giving on a small but steady scale so that younger people and families living on a budget could participate and see the fruits of the Foundation’s growth during the years when they may not have sizable assets to donate, and when they are decades away from estate giving. The compounding effect of this strategy on the Foundation’s principal balance has been astounding as many people pitch in a little bit, together, on a regular basis. 30 to 40 families and individuals have participated in The Miracle of 1854 program. Since its inception in 2015, they have donated a total of over $43,000! These deposits now are worth over $64,000!!
If you would like to participate in the Foundation’s growth in this way, please call Board President Paul O’Rear at (707) 953-7475 or mail the attached bank form (click here) with a voided check to First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Att’n: Foundation
GIFT FUNDS
WHERE do Donations go? The United Methodist Foundation of Santa Rosa has six Fund families, each of which focus on different areas of ministry. By having a variety of Funds, Donors can direct where their gifts and the ensuing distributions will be used. Donors are also encouraged to earmark undesignated gifts to the General Endowment Fund which provides maximum flexibility to the Board in making grants.
Scholarship Funds - for scholarships to junior, technical and 4 year colleges for our FUMC young people.
Education Funds - to support Christian education, including children, youth, music, and teachers.
Outreach Funds- to fund efforts to spread the work of FUMC out into the community and around the globe.
Building & Grounds Maintenance Funds - to maintain our properties.
General Endowment Fund - unrestricted funds, with 80% earmarked for annual grants to FUMC Trustees and Church Council.
E & A McDonald Fund - unrestricted funds.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How Are Donations Invested?
Donations are deposited into the United Methodist Foundation of Santa Rosa’s account held by the California-Nevada United Methodist Foundation. The CA-NV Foundation retains professional investment managers who invest the funds in conservative, socially responsible stocks and bonds oriented toward capital preservation. There is one Board member the UMF of Santa Rosa’ Board of Directors charged with monitoring the investments, periodically comparing investment performance to index benchmarks and reporting results at Board meetings. Over the past 5 years, we have achieved an average growth rate of 9.5%.
Who are our Foundation Donors?
You might think: "Who gives to the Foundation"? You also might be surprised by the answer: Many, many people, most of whom you probably know and sit next to in Church! Over the years, gifts have been received by dozens and dozens of members of the Church. While some gifts are anonymous, most gifts are recognized as being from folks who support the Foundation goals.
CHARITABLE GIVING
Gifts to the United Methodist Foundation of Santa Rosa support the mission of the church and can have income, gift and/or estate tax benefits for the Donor. Charitable gifts are one way of demonstrating Christian stewardship.
All gifts to the Foundation are endowed, i.e., the funds are invested, and a portion of the growth and income is used to fund current projects and missions, according to the Foundation's policies. Gifts can be made as Undesignated or may be added to current Designated funds which have specific purposes. There are Designated Funds for Scholarships, Education, Building & Grounds Maintenance and Outreach. A separate, new fund may be established for donations of $50,000 or more from which the donor can designate specific uses for the funds.
Gifts made during a person's lifetime can reduce income taxes for the donor. The actual amount varies based on an individual’s income tax situation and Individuals should consult with their tax advisor to determine the tax advantages lifetime charitable gifts. The designation of a charitable organization, such as the Foundation, as the beneficiary of an IRA or retirement account can also reduce the income tax consequences on the retirement funds, as well as create a charitable deduction for the estate.
Gifts established to take effect upon the passing of a Donor, sometimes referred to as bequests, are instructions in a will or trust specifically directing that an asset, a specific sum of money, a percentage of the estate or a residual amount, be distributed to the Foundation. A bequest in a will or revocable trust may be changed or modified by the donor up until the time of death. In an estate that is taxable for estate tax purposes, charitable bequests are exempt from estate tax, which will reduce or eliminate estate taxes. Donors may choose to direct the use of the gift in either a lifetime gift or in a bequest, subject to the charitable organization's ability to accept the gift. For example, the donor can designate that it be used for a specific purpose which will assure that the charitable goals of the donor are met.
The California-Nevada United Methodist Foundation manages the Foundation’s endowed funds. Their website has excellent information and resources on planned giving at www.canvumf.org Donors are encouraged to work with their professional advisors to determine the appropriate method to make charitable gifts. The UMF of Santa Rosa periodically offers estate and charitable gift planning for anyone interested.
LEGACY SOCIETY
Several years ago, the Foundation looked at ways to honor those who have made or will make material donations through their estate. The concept of the Legacy Society was created as a way of identifying and saying thank you to Donors who have given $1,000 or more to the Foundation, or who have included the Foundation in their estate planning.
*If you would like to hear more about the Legacy Society, please contact any of the Foundation Board members.
Give Online
1. Choose or customize amount you want to give to UMF-SR.
2. Give via your checking account or debit/credit card.
*Our Purpose
The United Methodist Foundation of Santa Rosa serves Jesus Christ by supporting the long-term funding and investment needs of the First United Methodist Church's church-related institutions and ministries and by educating, encouraging, and enabling individuals to carry out Christian philanthropy.