ENDOWMENT FUND

UUCA

Keep our Chalice Lit for Lifetimes!

Make a long term investment in The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta’s future by donating to the UUCA Endowment Fund:

JOIN THE BIRTHDAY CLUB

Celebrate your special day by ensuring the future of UUCA! Give the amount of your age annually on your birthday, or in honor of someone else’s birthday.

Email EF@UUCA.org to sign up!

Give Now!

GIVE IN MEMORY OF A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE

Did UUCA positively impact the life of someone you love? Honor their memory by making a memorial contribution to the Endowment Fund in their memory.

Give Now!

GIVE IN HONOR OF A SPECIAL OCCASION OR JUST BECAUSE!

Does someone you love care deeply about UUCA? Do you care deeply about UUCA? Give the gift that keeps on giving by guaranteeing UUCA’s health for years to come!

Give Now!

join the legacy society

Include UUCAEF in your Estate plans including your will, insurance policy or retirement account. 

See FAQs for how or email EF@UUCA.org.

prefer offline payment?

Mail checks to UUCA EF

2650 N. Druid Hills Rd. NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

The UUCA Endowment fund is an investment fund, set up in 1970 to support UUCA’s long term well-being and prosperity.  It is governed by a tax-exempt LLC and board, separate from the UUCA Board and operating budget. The  UUCA-EF, with the concurrence of the UUCA Board, can make grants or loans of up to 3% of the fund’s assets during a year. Recent examples include:

2021: New Campus Loan

The UUCA Endowment fund made an additional loan of $650,000 to ensure the completion of our new campus at 2650 N Druid Hills Road NE.

2022: Ruth Gogel Art Sale

The UUCA Endowment Fund was honored to run the sale of artwork donated by Ruth Gogel. Proceeds were donated to the UUCA arts program.

Ongoing: Reiman Scholarship

Begun in the mid-1970’s, the Reiman scholarship is the result of the vision and generosity of Rosalind (Roz) Reiman, who, even though she did not have children of her own, was an active volunteer in the Religious Education (RE) program when our congregation was known as the United Liberal Church. She began the scholarship to help our youngest adults take what they learned in our Unitarian Universalist community and live their values as they ventured out into the world. Although her actual donation was long ago exhausted, the Endowment Fund has continued the award in her honor.

2020: Gift to Capital Campaign

The Endowment Fund contributed $200,000 to the Captial Campaign for our new campus.

2019: Steinway Restoration

The historic and stunning UUCA Steinway grand piano was restored thanks to a gift of $36,000 from the Endowment Fund.

Cliff Valley Way Grants

At our former campus on Cliff Valley Way, the Endowment Fund invested in the refurbishing of the stained glass window from our earlier Unitarian church building. That window is currently displayed in our Social Hall foyer. They provided a matching grant of $30,000 to create the Memorial Garden. They provided $26,000 for the church playground. Additionally, they contributed $9,800 to create safety railings in the sanctuary.

endowment fund faq’s:

 

What is the Legacy Society?

Anyone who makes a bequest to the UUCA EF in their will or makes the EF a beneficiary of an insurance policy or retirement account can become a member of the Legacy Society. Legacy Society membership encourages a lasting means to contribute to UUCA’s future and promotes clarity in estate planning documents. If you have already made this commitment in your estate planning or are planning to do so and would like to become a Legacy Society member, please email endowmentfund@uuca.org

What is the current value of UUCA Endowment Fund assets?

As of June 30, 2023:

  • $585,560 UUCA EF investments & cash (mutual funds and securities’ value fluctuates with the market).
  • $650,000 in a loan to UUCA.
  • $1,235,560 total assets, including loan amount.

How are the Fund’s assets used?

To fulfill its charitable responsibilities, the UUCA EF has typically contributed a portion of the Fund’s annual earnings directly to UUCA projects, but never in amounts that would jeopardize the principal dividend generating assets of the Fund. During a typical year, up to three percent of Fund assets are made available as grants to support the life and work of the congregation. Examples of previous projects funded by the UUCA EF include:

2020

  • $200,000 to support UUCA’s Capital Campaign for their new home on North Druid Hill Road.

2019

  • $36,000 to restore the Steinway grand piano
  • Annual Reiman scholarship given to a graduating UUCA high school senior

Former Grants a Cliff Valley location

  • • Purchased of the Interdependent Web photograph by Ruth Gogel (currently in storage)
    • Refurbish stained glass windows from our earlier Unitarian church (currently in storage)
    • $30,000 matching grant for creation of the Memorial Garden
    • $26,600 for the Playground
    • $9,800 for safety railings in the Sanctuary
How do I submit a grant proposal to the UUCA EF?

A grant proposal must first be submitted to UUCA’s Board of Directors for their review and endorsement. If endorsed, the proposal then goes to the Endowment Fund Board, which studies the proposal further and decides whether to approve the request. If approved, the Endowment Fund Board’s final step is to determine whether the funding can occur during the current fiscal year or needs to be spread over multiple years to make sure the total of approved requests does not exceed 3% of the assets of UUCA EF each fiscal year.

What grant requests are funded by the UUCA EF?

The Endowment Fund is intended for extraordinary expenditures, rather than those that might be submitted for inclusion in UUCA’s annual operating budget. Grant requests should support UUCA’s long-term. They may be for capital expenditures or some other similar one-time (rather than regularly occurring) expenditure. Requests can also be used for seed money for new initiatives or for loans for new or expanded purposes in support of the UUCA community.

Who manages the UUCA Endowment Fund?

The UUCA EF is managed by a nine-member Board of Directors, which chooses its Directors from a list of nominees provided by the UUCA Board of Trustees. Directors serve staggered terms of three years and elect officers among themselves annually. Current UUCA Endowment Fund directors are: 

  • John Guyton-President
  • DeAnn Peterson-Vice President
  • Mary Crawley-Secretary
  • Mark Honeycutt-Treasurer
  • John Merkel
  • Jen Bain
  • Peggy Orson
  • Cindy Hoffner
  • Sally Meyer

You may reach all directors at endowmentfund@uuca.org

How are UUCA Endowment Fund assets invested?

The Fund is invested in a variety of vehicles to maximize potential fund growth, while providing protection of assets in financial downturns. Investment performance is monitored by the Endowment Fund Board.

WHAT LANGUAGE DO I USE TO INCLUDE THE UUCA EF IN MY ESTATE PLANS?

UUCA Endowment Fund suggests the following language: “I give to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta Endowment Fund (tax ID number 23-7085616), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation located in Atlanta, GA ___ percent of my estate or the sum of $ ___ for its general purposes.” Please call the UUCA EF Board President or Treasurer or email EF@uuca.org for assistance or to alert them of your action.