Endowment
When you hear the term “endowment fund,” you might first think of very wealthy people who donate millions of dollars to fund a scholarship or a teaching “chair” at a prestigious university. And you would be forgiven if you assume that millionaires giving millions is the only way to create or grow any type of endowment fund.
But that is not what the TVUUC Congregation had in mind in 1992 when it established the TVUUC Endowment Fund (“the Fund”). They knew that it takes a village of donors — sharing gifts both large and small — to build a church endowment fund over many years.
See a list of TVUUC members and friends who have helped build the Endowment Fund.
Members started the Fund to create a permanent financial base for and to support the continuing presence of TVUUC in the Knoxville community. It is a vehicle for ensuring the long-term survival of liberal religion in Knoxville and East Tennessee.
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The Fund received its initial anonymous donation of $30,000 in 1996. Today, thanks to gifts of all sizes, along with a prudent investment strategy, the Endowment Fund has grown to over $450,000. Unlike the funds raised during the Church’s annual stewardship campaign, contributions to the Endowment Fund are not spent on operating expenses. Instead, they are invested permanently. Earnings from the Fund are earmarked for special projects outside the scope of the operating budget. Help Build the Endowment: Give Now Like any long-term investment, the Fund grows, in part, because monies are invested in stocks, bonds and other securities that appreciate over time. However, most of the growth occurs because TVUUC members and friends are actively supporting the Fund through their donations . Many people giving small gifts routinely over time can build a large legacy. As TVUUC member Marion Von Beck notes, “Every little bit helps, and many little bits add up to a lot.” Dedicate Your Gift: Make your gift in honor of someone you admire or in memory of someone who was special to you. The names of those you celebrate or memorialize can be included (along with your name) on this Donors page. Target Your Gift: You can direct that your gift be invested in one or more of five sub-funds – wherever you want your donation to have the most impact. The five sub-funds are:- Capital Improvements – for the TVUUC building
- General – all-purpose
- Memorial Garden – care and maintenance
- Religious Education – any part of the RE program
- Social Concerns – projects or programs that address social concerns, including social justice.
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The American College of Trust & Estate Counsel