FIRST UNITED METHODIST ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION, INC.

Board of Stewards Members for 2008 *FOUNDATION STEWARDS CHAIRPERSON: Foster Ockerman,  Jr.   2010                 2009                2008             2011                                                                        David Turner       Jack Judy                   Foster Ockerman,Jr         Rick Griffith         Gregory Buckley   Mary A Musgrave                                    Howard Shellhaas                          Wimberly Royster   Chair of Administrative Council – Meredith Clark - ex officio, with vote Chair of Board of Trustees, Wayne Cravens - ex officio, with vote Senior Pastor, Paul Brunstetter - ex officio, without vote

Thoughtful gifts of all sizes make it possible to serve the needs of the church and our surrounding community. We encourage planned gifts including designation of the Church in wills, retirement accounts, and life insurance policies. To find out more or recieve a free brochure, contact the church at 859-233-0545 or Foster Ockerman, Jr. at 859- 254-4401 - days, 859- 268-8102 - nights, or ockerman@kycounsel.com.

The First United Methodist Church Endowment Foundation, Inc. serves Jesus Christ and His church by supporting the mission, ministries and vision of First Church. Created in 2001, the Foundation raises, manages and distributes funds to promote and support new and future programs at First Church. The Foundation oversees First Church's extraordinary funds, making certain they serve only extraordinary uses. These funds are entirely separate and distinct from the funds that support the day-to-day operations of the Church.

First United Methodist Church Endowment Foundation, Inc. Focus Statements Find additional donations (Education Committee) Invest those gifts (Investment Committee) Return the income to Christian service       (Allocations  and Distributions Committees) Support the future growth and service of       First United Methodist Church       (Board of Stewards) Teach the value of endowment giving       (Education  Committee)

Stretch Your Giving Ability with a Planned Gift to the First United Methodist Church Endowment Foundation The First United Methodist Church Endowment Foundation wants your gift to be as rewarding for you as it is beneficial for us. We want to work in partnership with you to structure a gift that advances your long-term financial goals while providing much needed support for First Church. We help donors make a larger commitment to the First United Methodist Church Endowment Foundation without affecting their cash flow by using appreciated securities for their gift instead of cash. We guide parishioners and their advisors in incorporating charitable bequests and gifts of life insurance into their estate and financial planning. And, we offer gift plans that return income to the donor, so that a gift to The Foundation can also help with the donor's retirement, education and family needs. The Foundation will show you how the following options can stretch your giving ability, and help you while they're helping us.  If you would like a copy of our free booklet, How To Make a Will that Works, please click on the title of the booklet for a link to make a request . Of course there is never an obligation.

Why does First United Methodist Church Need an Endowment Foundation? In order to be good stewards of what God has placed in our care, the FUMC Administrative Council recognized several needs including: A sound investment strategy for it's past and future bequests; Written policies to guide the disbursement of those gifts; A repository for the future purchase of big ticket items; and A vehicle for educating members on the benefits of deferred giving. Charged with developing a response to these needs, the Endowment Committee spent nearly two years researching and developing a plan for the future. We think this plan both addresses the needs above and provides a legal structure that helps insure that donor wishes will always be honored. The established First United Methodist Church Endowment Foundation, Inc. makes it easier for FUMC members and friends to remember the church during estate planning.

Isn’t that what the Trustees are supposed to do? FUMC members have earmarked bequests to our church for many years. These gifts have been delivered to the Board of Trustees who are responsible for the care of our property. Historically these funds have been invested in Money Market accounts and disbursed on an "as needed" basis. The Trustees do a great job of caring for our church property, however, they are not charged to be capital investment managers. As stewards of our real estate, buildings, furniture and fixtures, they have a single focus which does not extend to real estate acquisition, new construction, personal property acquisition, missions, etc.

Is the Endowment Foundation a separate organization from the Church? Not exactly. While the Endowment Foundation was separately incorporated as a charitable institution in the State of Kentucky, it will operate under the authority of the Book of Discipline for the benefit of First United Methodist Church. It’s governing board (the Board of Stewards) is FUMC members nominated by the Lay Leadership Committee. Except for donor-directed funds, all decisions relating to the precise use of available Foundation funds are made by the Administrative Council, and/or the Charge Conference or the Trustees.

How are gifts to the Endowment Foundation different from regular gifts to the church? Two ways:  Gifts to the Endowment Foundation are aimed at securing the ministries of the church into the future. Most gift funds, therefore, have all (or a major portion of) the original gift permanently invested with the income available for special ministries or needs of FUMC. Endowment funds will NOT replace any part of the regular church budget. The FUMC family will continue to practice stewardship through annual pledges, tithes and offerings to help build and support the work of this worship community.

Where will gifts to the Endowment Foundation come from? Anyone can make a gift to the Endowment Foundation at any time. Gifts will come from planned gifts such as lifetime transfers, wills, bequests, memorial gifts, etc.

May I make my annual pledge to the Endowment Foundation instead of the general church budget? Please don’t! Gifts to the Endowment Foundation will not support the church budget. Without staff, a building, materials and equipment, etc., the ministries of the church cannot happen – even if there is "special" funding for them.

Don’t I need a large amount of money to make an Endowment Foundation gift? Absolutely not! Gifts of any size made to one of the four primary gift funds will work together with the gifts of others to produce annual income.

Who invests the funds and how? All Foundation funds will be managed by the Endowment Foundation Board of Stewards and invested conservatively for growth with the advice and help of professionals.

What assurances do I have that my gift will be used for my stated purpose? The Board of Stewards is legally responsible to see that each fund is administered according to the purpose and manner stated in the fund’s description and as outlined in the Endowment Foundation’s By-Laws.

What assets can I give? Some basic information about the advantages of making certain kinds of gifts will be available through the Endowment Foundation.

Will the Endowment Foundation provide tax advice? No; potential donors are strongly encouraged to work with their own attorneys or estate planners before making final decisions about major gifts and bequests.

If you have additional questions, please contact:
Foster Ockerman, Jr. at 254-4401 - days
268-8102 - nights, or ockerman@kycounsel.com.