Endowment Programs

An established Endowment Program is vital for members to leave a legacy. KMF helps churches and organizations create or grow their endowment program to help leave a legacy for the next generation.

“I [Paul] planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”

- 1 Corinthians 3:6

Creating Your Endowment Program

What would you do if someone gave your church $1 million for an endowment? It is vital for the congregation to have a clear vision and a trustworthy process to promote giving to leave a legacy for the next generation. KMF offers free resources to help you get started in creating your endowment program. If you are interested in having a KMF staff member guide your church through the process, please contact us.

1. Discover Vision

Through having a clear vision in place, people will be more inspired to leave gifts to the church in life and in their estate. The first step is ensuring your congregation has a vision for the future. People want to give gifts to change lives. What is your vision to change lives through the church? Further, what is your vision for how you will deploy a legacy gift? To help in this process, KMF provides a free "Discovering Your Vision" worksheet.

Discovering Your Vision Worksheet Discovering Your Vision Worksheet (printable)

2. Create a Trustworthy Process

It is important to have a clear, trustworthy process in place to receive gifts so your donors have confidence in supporting your vision. The second step is creating a charter for your endowment program so that the process for receiving gifts is transparent and clear. You are welcome to edit the Church Charter Template to fit your church's needs.

Church Charter Template Single Board Church Charter Template

3. Ask

By sharing your vision, others will be inspired to join in your mission. The third step is creating promotional materials that help share your vision and asking congregation members to be involved. If you would like help creating promotional materials, please email us at info@kansasmethodistfoundation.org.

Promotional Brochure Example

How Endowment Programs Help Support Churches

When the pandemic started, members of Council Grove Dunlap UMC were not strangers to live streaming worship. However, when they resumed worship in person, they found new technology was needed to provide the in-person and online experiences they desired.
Read More
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, there were many questions and unknowns for churches across the state. However, for one local church an answer came quickly.
Read More

Presentation library

How to Start an Endowment Program
Learn best practices to put in place for your endowment program and steps to get started.
How to Grow and Promote Your Endowment Program
Learn proven steps to help promote and grow your endowment program to help leave a legacy to the next generation.

"A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children."

- Proverbs 13:22

Let's Get Started

Need help in starting or growing your endowment program? The first step is talking with Rev. Dr. Dustin Petz, President and CEO of the Kansas Methodist Foundation.

email dustin