Foundation

Believing that when we “cast our bread upon water, it shall return,” our dream for the twenty-first century is that endowments will provide additional resources for the continued development of the ministry and mission of First United Methodist Church.

The Foundation was chartered in the spring of 1994 as a not-for-profit corporation by the State of Tennessee and by-laws were adopted at that time.  The principal of these gifts will remain intact with the income only being distributed at the direction of the Board of Directors.  The Foundation always puts the welfare and interest of the donor first.  This is accomplished by assisting members with wise planned giving that will enable them to meet their own needs and give enduring gifts to the church.

The Foundation began with a bequest of $50,000 from Mary Harris Pope, who joined the church on April 12, 1920.  She was the widow of Winfield Pope, who was also a longtime member and a banker in Jackson for many years.  Mary’s generous gift started the Foundation, which today has principal totaling $250,000.

The FUMC Foundation, while still small in terms of funds, is working to affect the lives of others.  The Homer and Ellen Johns Scholarship Fund was established with $25,000 from the Foundation and, with additional support from the Johns and others in the congregation, forty students have received awards totaling $40,000 between 1999 and 2006. Beginning in 2007, all funds are awarded through the office of financial aid at Lambuth University.

How To Make A Gift

The most common donations are outright gifts, such as cash or a check, which we receive right away.  But many times, people want to hold on to their money and other assets for now, just to be sure they can meet their family’s future financial needs.  These people are usually delighted to learn that we have excellent alternatives, which allow them to still make a gift.  Some of those options are:

• Living trust
• Bequest in a will
• Life insurance gift
• Retirement plan gift
• Real estate gift
• Charitable remainder annuity trust
• Charitable remainder unitrust
• Charitable gift annuity
• Charitable lead trust

Wisely planned gifts can produce tax savings and estate protection.  The Foundation will be glad to discuss gifts to the First United Methodist Church via the Foundation with you.  These matters are treated confidentially.