Endowment

leaving a lasting legacy

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Roots and Branches
We sit in the shade of trees we did not plant.

Since 1955, when the founders acted on their vision for a liberal religious community in the Fox Valley, the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has been a home for spiritual seekers. Each of us benefits from the vision and support of those those who have gone before us. Now it is our turn to look forward. We must put our faith into action and ensure that this place we value is secure, that the values, vision and voice of our free faith continue for future generations.

Looking to this future, the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Endowment Fund helps to ensure the stability of the Fellowship, to continue our programs and our mission for those who come after us.

Endowment Fund Strengthens and Builds Our Community

Giving to the Fellowship Endowment Fund is not an alternative to annual pledging. Instead, the Endowment Fund offers a unique way for the Fellowship to receive special gifts, above and beyond those needed for our annual operating budget.

A gift can be simple to arrange. A provision or amendment prepared by your attorney at the time you make or update your will or trust is all that is necessary.

The Fellowship Endowment Fund helps to secure the long-term financial security of this congregation, to weather unexpected financial emergencies, to sustain innovative programs and to make special, one-time purchases.

Many Paths to Giving

Donors may choose an approach to giving that fits their own values and life circumstances. Gifts via wills and living trusts are popular because they are easy to arrange and may be changed at any time the donor chooses.

Here are some paths to consider:

Gifts of Cash
Memorial Gifts
Wills (bequests)
Stocks
Personal property (jewelry, collections, heirlooms, etc.)
Real estate
Life Insurance
Retirement Plan
Gifts to a trust where income/dividends are paid out to the donor during the donor’s lifetime and the Fellowship retains the remaining assets upon the donor’s death.
Gifts to a trust where income/dividends are paid to the Fellowship Endowment Fund and the donor’s family or other designees receive remaining assets upon the donor’s death.

An Important Personal Decision

We are all dedicated to helping our Fellowship thrive, giving of our time, talents and resources to whatever extent we can. How we contribute, what we give and when we give will differ. But it is the giving that matters.

If you’re planning for the future of your estate, please consider making a lasting gift to the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Endowment Fund. There is gratification in knowing that, when we no longer need our wealth, a part of it will strengthen the religious home we have come to cherish. For more information about the tax benefits of charitable giving, contact the Fellowship, your accountant or an estate planning attorney.

Acorn Society
The Acorn Society was established to gratefully recognize Fellowship members and friends who have committed resources—present or future—to the long-term growth of the Fellowship. Those who have put the Fellowship in their will and arranged for a planned gift or made an outright gift to the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Endowment Fund is a member of the Acorn Society. They are invited to special recognition events that are held to honor them.

Simple Steps for including the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in your will

The legal name of the Fund for use in preparing wills, checks or documents of transfer is:
Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Endowment Fund
If drawing up a will with the help of your attorney, inform your attorney that you wish to leave the Fellowship a designated amount of dollars or a designated percent of your estate. Your attorney will put the bequest into language that is consistent with their format using the legal name from step one.
If you are drawing up a will using a standard form and wish to designate the Fellowship in your will, include the legal name from step one.
If you currently have a will on file with an attorney or executor, you can contact your attorney and request a codicil. This is a later change or addendum to a completed will so that you do not have to rewrite your entire will.

Sample codicils:

I give and bequest to the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship located in Appleton, WI the sum of __________ dollars to be used for the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Endowment Fund.

I give and bequest to the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship located in Appleton, WI __________ percentage of my estate to be used for the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Endowment Fund.

Our director of finance and operations, Phyllis Schmitt, or any member of our Generosity & Engagement Ministries will gladly discuss our endowment with you.

“I want what I found here to be here for others.”

Many years ago, members of the Fellowship community started an endowment fund to allow all to invest in the long-term future of the Fellowship. We hope this fund will eventually help support the Fellowship’s operations, allow for program expansion, and meet other long-term needs not readily funded by our annual budget.

The Endowment Focus Group of the Generosity Engagement & Ministries encourages support for the long-term health of the Fellowship through raising awareness and support of our Endowment Fund. Members who give a financial gift to the endowment or notify us of their intention to leave a legacy gift are noted as members of the Acorn Society.

Please reach out to [email protected] with questions or for more information.