Endowment

The First Unitarian Church Endowment Fund offers planned giving opportunities to help support church goals that are beyond the annual budget. Created in 1987, our Endowment Fund helps make big-dollar projects happen when we need them, and supports smaller efforts through REACH Grants. Currently, our fund is invested in the Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund. Oversight of our fund investments is carried out according to the Endowment Fund by-laws.

We’d be honored to put your generosity to work! There are several ways to support the Endowment Fund:

• A one-time or recurring cash contribution – You may donate online; please select Endowment in the Fund drop-down box. If you prefer to send a check, please be sure to indicate Endowment Fund in the note section of the check.
• A donation of stock or other investment asset – please talk with an Endowment Committee member
• A legacy gift in your will or from a trust or IRA  – please talk with an Endowment Committee member

Please let our Endowment Committee know if you’ve made a cash contribution as a memorial gift, for another occasion, or just because you love the church, by completing our Contribution Reporting Form. We want to be able to acknowledge your generosity.

If you have questions or, even better, if you would like to make a planned gift, please reach out to us.

Contact: Lori Emison Clair, Chair | Endowment@ucdsm.org

REACH Grants (Radical Engagement And Creative Happenings) are an ongoing way for our Endowment Fund to support our church’s mission. Each year, up to 2% of the principal value of the Endowment Fund may be tapped to support projects outside of our annually budgeted expenses.

Any member or church group may apply for a REACH grant. Grants are limited to $2,500 and the funds are often used for such things as equipment purchases, educational opportunities or community outreach.

A call for grant applications is typically made in the spring by our Endowment Committee. Applications are reviewed by the committee and the awards are announced in July. Check out the REACH Grant Application Form to get started!