Grateful hearts. Joyful giving. Vibrant church.
Synod Endowment Fund
"It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
~Matthew 13:32
What is an endowment fund?
The Northwest Synod of Wisconsin’s Endowment Fund is a means by which you can leave a legacy of your faith in God. The fund is overseen by a committee appointed by the synod council to wisely invest contributions so that it grows and provides interest and dividends that are then used to advance the mission of the synod and make a difference in the world.
PURPOSE OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND
Established in 2001, the purpose of this fund is to:
1. Encourage whole life stewardship and to receive and manage donations, bequests, and charitable gifts from individuals, congregations, and organizations.
2. Strengthen and resource the ministry of the synod.
3. Enhance the ministry of the synod in addition to, and apart from, its yearly operating budget, with emphasis on, but not limited to:
• Equipping and supporting leaders - seminary debt assistance, training lay leaders
• Strengthening congregational vitality- connect to God, connect to neighbors
• Developing ministry for the next generation - first third of life resources and training.
How can I make a gift?
Thank you for choosing to make a difference in the church by supporting our mission: Walking Together for the sake of God’s mission in the world.
Whether you have much to give or a small amount to share, leaving a gift through an estate plan will have long-lasting impact. To share a gift now, give in memory or honor of someone, or include a bequest to the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin’s Endowment Fund, you will be providing a lasting legacy of faith and love.
Giving options
To give a gift by check, please make payable to:
The Northwest Synod of Wisconsin
(“Endowment Fund” in the memo)
and send to:
Northwest Synod of Wisconsin
944 24 1/4 Street Suite 2
Chetek, WI 54728
For other inquiries related to endowment gifts and estate planning, you can contact:
The Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Office
info@nwswi.org
or
The ELCA Regional Gift Planner
Cynthia J. Halverson, ELCA Foundation
cynthia.halverson@elca.org
773.380.2572
Testimonials
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your prayerful decision to help my family and I with my [seminary] student debt. This very generous gift brought down my balance significantly. We appreciate it very much. I am blessed to be a pastor and continue in this vocation I have been called to.”
-Rev. Ken S.
“Thank you for the generous gift. Receiving this means a lot to me and my family as it validates our work here as a part of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. Because of your dedication to support pastoral education debt reduction, I was able to pay off one of my loans entirely, freeing the monthly payment amount to be applied to further debt reductions. May God continue to bless the good work of our synod and its congregations.”
-Rev. Ron M.
“Shortly after our daughter was born, we found out that we were recipients of a grant that would help with our seminary debt. As a double clergy-couple-family, that was huge for us…it was a bucket of grace. By having less time that we have to spend paying down our debt, we will better be able to contribute to the mission of the church. It’s always been one of our goals to reach a tithe, and with student loan payments, it’s been very difficult. But with this grant it gives us the opportunity to work toward that [goal] sooner than expected, which is a wonderful thing.”
~Rev. Annie L. & Rev. Lucas L.
“Thank you for the grant I received…It means so much as a young leader of the church that I am supported in my financial well-being…it helped me, and my family and my church to love and serve better.
-Rev. Jamie B.