The content of this presentation is based upon the material of the professional nonprofit development community and written from an Orthodox Christian perspective.

1. The Parish Endowment
Stewardship AdvocatesTM

2. Bequest Giving to the Church
The largest gift ever
made in Christendom
was the bequest of St.
Constantine the Great,
who in his will left all of
his lands to the church.

3. Jesus Himself Made a Form of Bequest
Before our Lord gave the final sacrifice of His
life on our behalf, He offered a bequest to
indicate how the important things entrusted to
him by his Father should be allocated. He died
a poor man by the world’s standard, but rich in
the love of his Father and also rich in the love
of his mother and the beloved disciple, John.
His earthly treasure – his mother, the Virgin
Mary, and his dear friend, John the Beloved
Disciple stood at the foot of the cross when
Jesus said, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then
he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!’"
(John 19:27). In a certain sense, this was Jesus’
last will and testament.

4. The Story Continues
In another sense, he made no testamentary
provision for his meager material possessions –
five articles of clothing including the famous
“seamless garment woven in one piece from
top to bottom. “ (John 19:23) So His garments
were divided by the government (the Roman
soldiers) into four equal shares with the
soldiers casting lots (throwing dice in the lower
right corner of the icon) to determine the
disposition of the final article. Once again, in a
certain sense this is what happens to us when
we fail to make provision for our possessions. It
is civil law that determines the final disposition
of our estate.

5. A Choice for Us
It is proper, therefore, that we
make careful disposition of the
things God has entrusted to us
in our lifetime. Of course, for
many of us much of this will be
apportioned to our children.
This is meet and proper as
circumstances merit. Yet is
there also room to remember
the church that has given us so
much joy in life? And shouldn’t
we make this same Paschal joy
available to the generations that
follow us?

6. A Bequest is an Easy Way to Give
This is the percent of testamentary gifts
in America that are simple bequests

7. The Average Charitable Bequest
According to a 2011 study by
Blackbaud, the donor management
software company, the average
charitable bequest in America is
between $35,000 and $70,000. Of
course we often read of gifts that are
much, much larger.

8. The Power of Asking
In the experience of the author,
simply and personally asking
parishioners if they would
consider remembering the parish
in their will results in a 20‐30%
sympathetic response. Many say,
“We never thought of this.”
Remember these are the largest
gifts that charitable organizations
ever receive. So a 20‐30%
response rate can lead to a
significant endowment though it
may take a generation to get
there.

9. Strategic Intent
When is the best time to plant
a tree? – twenty years ago.
When is the second best time
to plant a tree? – today.
If your parish does not have an
endowment program, now is
the time to start one.

10. Three Fundraising Strategies
Annual Giving
Programs
Special & Major
Gifts Programs
Planned Giving
Programs
Source of Funds
for Gift
income or cash
on hand
assets or multi‐year
pledges estate wealth
Charity’s use of
Contribution
on‐going programs
and ministries
special projects
or unique needs endowment
Audience
all active
constituents
specially indentified
prospects with
linkages, interest
and ability
all those interested
In long term
viability of the
organization
Methods
annual solicitation
or event
match prospects
with needs
continuous
education, long
term cultivation
Fund Raising
Vehicles
Effective financing of church ministry includes all of the above

11. Characteristics of Bequest Donors
• Affinity – a genuine interest in the mission and
work of the church – can be strengthened over
time
• Ability – the financial wherewithal to make a
significant sized contribution, can be expanded
with gift planning
• Access – the opportunity to meet with the
prospective donor and gently raise the question

12. The Case for Endowments
• Attracts and preserves financial reserves to provide
stability and consistency
• Provides vehicle for donors interested in making a
permanent contribution
• Allows the organization to take advantage of
opportunities to meet changing needs
• Creates “space” for strategic planning and
entrepreneurial type programs

13. The Case Against Endowments
• If designated toward operations, will erode annual
giving
• Erosion of annual giving can lead to lessened sense
of belonging and meaningful participation in parish
life by parishioners
• Can create cynicism in parish members (They have
all the money they need. Why should I give?)
• Temptation for institutional arrogance (We have the
funds we need. We don’t need donors.)
• May inadvertently become a sedative resulting in
institutional lassitude and complacency

14. Investing Endowment Funds
• Provides consistent distribution over time while
guarding purchasing power of the distribution
• Invested for “total return” – total investment return
equals income (dividends and interest) plus changes
(appreciation) in value
• A “payout policy” sets a percentage payout regardless
of “income” (dividends and interest) – recommended
at 4% today

15. Suggestions
• Every endowment should be a “working” endowment
• Transparency and professional investment guidance is critical to
success – help parishioners to understand that this is their
endowment and it is well‐managed and accomplishing much good
• Ideally, does not flow into operations, which should be 100% funded
by stewardship giving
• Allocate the ROI to special projects, entrepreneurial and
experimental type parish activities or grants to worthy national and
local church charities
• Some endowments, depending upon their purpose, can be accessed
for capital projects outside the annual operating budget
• Promote this opportunity to do something meaningful for the church
but do it gently – it’s a sensitive subject – people often have strange
and secretive values around money

16. The Principal of Stewardship Advocates
Ordained Bastille Day 1974; 38 years a priest;
four parishes served; B.A., M.Div., plus 30
courses of study in nonprofit institutional
development;12 years serving as Vice
Chancellor of Advancement at St. Vladimir's
Seminary; 15 years as consultant to well over
100 Orthodox parishes and organizations;
author and editor of Good and Faithful
Servant: Stewardship in the Orthodox Church.
In June 2012, at his own request, Anthony was
honorably returned to the ranks of the laity in
order to receive the sacrament of holy
matrimony.
Anthony L. Scott

17. Contact Information and
Additional Material
phone/text: 347.831.1848
email: orthodoxconsultant@gmail.com
website: www.stewardshipadvocates.org
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newsletter: http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org/