|  Mission Statement
Trinity Lutheran Church’s mission for the Endowment Fund is to support the development of new and emerging ministries and vital ongoing programs engaging people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Gifts to the Trinity Endowment Fund
A Gift to the Trinity Endowment Fund is made through the generosity of members and friends. Trinity’s commitment to supporting new and emerging ministries and vital ongoing programs is secured because of these gifts. The Endowment Fund is crucial to continuing innovation and excellence in ministry. Dedicated funds provide opportunities to develop new programs. Typically, annual budgets allow the congregation to continue doing what it has already done. However, proceeds from the Endowment Fund offer funding that can be used for new ideas, new staff positions and one-time grants for new ministries. Every year there are more good ideas for ministry than Trinity can fund from its annual budget. The Endowment Fund gives us the opportunity to respond to God’s call to fulfill our mission to Love, Transform and Serve.
Gifts may be designated in any of four areas of ministry:
New and Emerging Ministries
Funds designated for New and Emerging Ministries may be used for seed money and financial support at the early stages of a developing ministry. The needs of the community and beyond are always changing and Trinity wants to be ready to meet the needs of the people it serves. New and Emerging Ministries are vital to Trinity’s continued commitment to remaining at the forefront of relevant ministry.
Missions
Every year there are new funding requests for Missions to meet needs here in the community and around the world. Trinity’s ministry partners in Tanzania, for example, are in the process of developing a clean water system, a significant and meaningful contribution to the health and welfare of an entire community. Trinity has been blessed with an abundance of people willing to spend hours, days and weeks to help its neighbors and others in need, but it also takes funding to meet these mission objectives.
Worship and Music
An area of prominence in Trinity’s ministry has been the Worship and Music program. Funding for unique worship experiences, which bring in outside musicians and artists, enhance Trinity’s worship programs. And, the addition of new instruments and refurbishments are made possible through the Endowment Fund. These gifts help to bring new vitality to the gathered Trinity community, welcoming and inspiring all.
Children, Youth and Family
Leaders of the Children, Youth and Family ministry program enthusiastically respond to opportunities to serve the families of Trinity’s younger members and friends. Everything from camp scholarships to summer collegiate interns, to special materials to support faith at home, requires funding that is not always available in the annual budget. Keeping this ministry relevant to the changing needs of the families in the community is a major priority.
Gift Amount
Gifts of $2,000 or more are eligible for the Endowment fund. These gifts are added to Trinity’s current investments in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s ELCA Pooled Income Fund and the investment proceeds are used to fund your designated ministries.
For More Information
Please contact a member of the Endowment Team to learn more about this exciting program.
Endowment Team
Bob Eiselt, Parish Administrator email
Joan Fogelberg email
Jon Fogelberg email
Tom Jolivette email
Dan Poffenberger, Sr. Pastor email
Tim Quarberg email
Ralph Steiner, Chair emailAbout Trinity Lutheran ChurchSwedish Evangelical Church of Stillwater was organized July 18, 1871 with 34 adults and 13 children enrolled as charter members. Services began in 1855 when the first Swedish families settled in Stillwater. Circuit-riding Lutheran pastors, including Eric Norelius and Erland Carlson served to minister to these families and held services at the Pacific Hotel, a boarding house of Mrs. John Smith or “Mother Smith,” then located at Main and Nelson Streets. More than 150 years of ministry in the St. Croix Valley has broadened and grown into a significant ministry touching lives in the community and around the world.
Trinity has become known as a congregation with both a solid Lutheran identity and a progressive, ecumenical ministry presence. Through the years, Trinity has been a pioneer in developing innovative ministry programs for worship, missions and children, youth and family and adult learning. This foresight by Trinity’s pastors and leaders, with the faith to invest in new ideas, has kept Trinity a vital congregation.Answers to Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the Trinity Endowment Fund?
The Endowment Fund is a permanent fund established from gifts given by members and friends to support four areas of ministry:
New and Emerging Ministries, Missions, Worship and Music, and Children, Youth and Families
How do I go about making a gift to the Endowment Fund?
If you are interested in making a gift or learning more about the Endowment Fund, contact a member of the Endowment Team, the Senior Pastor or the Parish Administrator. Generally, gifts are given in cash, stock or other appreciated assets. You may do this through a will bequest or through a beneficiary designation on products like life insurance, annuities, IRAs and pension accounts.
What is the minimum amount required to make a gift to the Endowment Fund?
Gifts of $2,000 or more may be added to Trinity’s current investments in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s ELCA Pooled Income Fund.
Is there another way to make a contribution for a specific program other than a gift to the Endowment Fund?
Yes. Contributions of less than $2000 may also be designated to support any of the four areas of ministry. Your contribution will be used within a year of being given.
Is it possible to make a gift in “honor of” or “memory of” another person or group?
Absolutely! What a wonderful tribute this would be. Not only is it possible, but it is encouraged. You and those you honor or remember will be recognized publicly for your endowment gift, unless your preference is to remain anonymous.
May I designate a specific program where my gift to the Endowment Fund is to be exclusively used?
The Endowment Fund only allows designations to vital, ongoing and new and emerging ministries in missions, worship and music or children, youth and families.
Once I make a designation for my gift to the Endowment Fund is it possible to change the designation later on?
No. Once a gift is given, the designation may not be changed.
What are the tax advantages of making a gift to the Endowment Fund?
Gifts to the Endowment Fund are tax-deductible. A tax deduction is taken by you on your federal and state returns and the IRS considers the gift a completed action and irrevocable. Please consult your tax advisor for specific information.
Where will my endowment gift be invested?
Currently, the Endowment Fund is invested in the ELCA Pooled Income Fund. The fund may be transferred to a different investment pool if deemed advisable by the Trinity Congregational Council and Finance Committee who are responsible for that decision.
What are the priorities for the investment of the Endowment Fund?
The Endowment Fund is invested primarily to preserve capital; second, to produce annual returns to fund new and emerging ministries and ongoing programs; and third for growth.
How often is the interest from my gift to the Endowment Fund distributed?
The ELCA Pooled Income Fund provides quarterly distributions from the Endowment Fund. Your gift keeps on giving. Earnings are distributed back to Trinity, which has an annual goal of a 5% distribution from total returns to the fund.
Does the principal value of my gift ever change?
It may. Your gift is invested in the ELCA Pooled Income Fund, consisting of bond and equity markets which change in value daily. While the fund is conservative the value of the funds varies in response to market conditions.
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