Episcopal Endowment Builders

If you have chosen, through various means, to establish or have promised to establish an endowment fund for the benefit of an Episcopal entity within the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, you are qualified to be a member of a special group of persons known as “Episcopal Endowment Builders”. 

Formerly known as “The Kemper Society”, the name of this group of special Episcopalians was changed to “Episcopal Endowment Builders” in 2002.   This was done so that the name would more clearly reflect what each of its members hoped to accomplish:  build endowments for their individual parishes, favorite Episcopal entities, or the Diocese or any combination thereof. 

Much about the future seems uncertain these days.   Many people wonder what on earth they can do to leave the world a better place for future generations.  Creating or building an endowment fund for your parish, an Episcopal agency, or the Diocese itself offers a powerful means of doing so.

An endowment fund, well-designed and well-managed, can be a tremendously energizing support to the work of a parish.   Yet to the uninitiated, designing and managing an endowment fund can seem a daunting task.

Trustees of Funds and Endowments, Inc. (“Trustees”) serving the Diocese of Milwaukee, exists to assist and support you and your favorite Episcopal entity as you create, manage, and grow your endowment fund.

Here are a few of the ways Trustees can help you:

• Consult with you and your entity’s leadership on how to set up an endowment.
• Invest the endowment funds with the guidance of professional investment managers.
• Provide sample brochures for adaptation by your entity to teach other potential donors about the power of endowment and how to participate.
• Provide a “Life-Planning Handbook” and/or speakers as teaching aids about planning for end-of-life care and decisions, estate planning and charitable giving.
• Be the permanent steward of your fund.

Episcopal Endowment Builders are interested in the long-term stability of the Diocese and parishes or other Episcopal entities within the Diocese.  They have expressed that interest by making provisions for the creation of permanent endowment funds.  They have created vehicles whereby they are assured that the funds they have given, or will give, will be honored and respected forever.  The objects of their benevolences are varied.  They have chosen to support seminarian scholarships, scholarships which will allow Milwaukee inner-city students to pursue further educational opportunities, the general or special needs of individual parishes and entities, the current or future needs of the Diocese, the Bishop’s discretionary funds, outreach, designated or yet to be chosen Episcopal organizations, and unrestricted needs.

Any who have made provisions in their estate planning documents for building the endowments of their parish or have already created endowment funds for their parish, their favorite Episcopal entity, or the Diocese itself is deemed to be a member of “Episcopal Endowment Builders.”

There are many opportunities for the creation of permanent endowment funds within this Diocese.  Trustees has ideas and drafts of agreements to help you.  There is no charge nor are fees involved.  We are here to help you plan for the future of the Episcopal Church within this Diocese through the use of endowments.  Please call me at (414) 224-0339.  We would welcome the celebration of your name being added in bold print to our listing of names of members of Episcopal Endowment Builders in the May issue of The Covenant.  You will also be invited to attend periodic meetings of Episcopal Endowment Builders events when scheduled.”