Wichita College Hill UMC – Endowment Program Strengthened: “New Wine into New Wineskins; Both are Preserved”

One of the ministries the Kansas Methodist Foundation provides to the churches we serve is helping them strengthen endowment programs and legacy giving ministries. KMF comes alongside congregations to review policies, strengthen donor development programs, and steward well resources to support ministry and mission. This specialized ministry allows KMF to be a key partner with congregations to grow resources for ministry.

At the beginning of 2023, the Kansas Methodist Foundation began a process of working with College Hill United Methodist (CHUM) Foundation to do a holistic review of their endowment program and ministry. KMF President and CEO, Dustin Petz, met with the Foundation board to review policies and consider best practices to organize and strengthen the operation in order to serve well the congregation.

Before long, it became apparent that a new way of operating could help CHUM better steward their funds to support the church’s ministry.  The questions became:

• Is there a new way to function that could reduce the administrative burden of managing a foundation?
• Would a new way of organizing effectively refocus the church’s efforts to cultivate new gifts?
• Is there a better way to support CHUM’s ministry and deploy funds for ministry?

After much discernment and advice from outside legal counsel, it was finally decided that the College Hill United Methodist Foundation would terminate as a separately incorporated foundation and gift those assets to the Kansas Methodist Foundation for the benefit of the College Hill United Methodist Church. In essence, this decision leveraged the KMF’s professional expertise to administer and steward the funds so that the church could focus greater attention on the ministry the funds support and being the church God has called CHUM to be, for such a time as this.

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is excited about this expanded partnership and is committed to helping CHUM grow in stewardship and generosity so that the work of the church can continue, expand, and provide a place for new people at College Hill United Methodist Church.

I encourage other churches to consider this model. KMF is a resource to all of our churches & we benefit from their expertise & professional knowledge in this area. Using KMF frees me & my congregation to do what we’re an expert in: sharing grace beyond belief!       - Rev. Jill Sander-Chali , CHUM

I believe this will relieve CHUM’s staff & lay leaders from the administrative burden of managing our own Foundation. It allows us to focus our energies on raising money for the future & deploying funds to support & grow our current ministries!-                          Rev. Jill Sander-Chali , CHUM