The PHUMC Foundation has supported and will continue to support the mission and ministry of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church through the distribution of earnings from the various endowments through grants. Since the creation of the PHUMC Foundation in 2003, we have provided nearly $2.67 million in support of PHUMC. This includes $1.35 million toward the Church’s Operating Budget, nearly $1 million from Restricted Funds, and roughly $330,000 in Discretionary Grants.
Support to PHUMC
Upon the creation of the PHUMC Foundation in 2003, all existing endowment accounts within PHUMC were transferred to the Foundation. Some of the existing endowments were very specific regard the use of their proceeds while some were considered general endowments. The general endowments and other unrestricted endowments provide the basis of the Foundation’s Operating Budget and allow support of PHUMC Operations.
As envisioned by the creators of the Foundation, by 2005 the Foundation began supporting the operations of PHUMC with a pledge of $60,000 cash toward the annual operating budget. Since then, that amount has been increased twice, remaining at a static, defined amount as approved by the Foundation Board. In 2023, as the 2024 Foundation budget was under development, the Foundation Board of Directors studied the history of Foundation support to PHUMC (including the Operating Pledge, Restricted Funds, and Discretionary Grants). The Board of Directors agreed to modify the calculation of the Operating Pledge from a fixed amount to a percentage of the Unrestricted Funds transferred annually. Therefore, in 2024, the Operating Pledge was increased to over $150,000.
Restricted Fund Grants
As mentioned in the Gift Acceptance Policy, the Foundation classifies our endowments as either restricted or unrestricted, depending on the wishes of the donor. Restricted endowments are those which are designed to benefit a specific program or ministry of the Church (Music, Children, Worship, Congregational Care, or Youth). A full listing of the restricted endowments can be found here. These funds are available to PHUMC Staff to help fund expenses outside the normal Operating Budget. They are not available to supplement employee compensation. Recent examples of Restricted Fund distributions include support for the Guatemala Mission Trip, Helping Hands Respite Care, Amplify subscription for Adult Bible Studies, purchase of 3rd grade bibles, and underwriting activities for the Older Adults.
Discretionary Grants
Any monies designated by the Foundation Board for the Unrestricted Grant Reserve Fund, or Discretionary Grants, are secondary in priority to the PHUMC Foundation Operating Budget Reserve. When there are at least $30,000 in the Unrestricted Grant Reserve Fund (accounting for any outstanding grant amounts), the Foundation may invite any members of the PHUMC Program Staff to request funding for special projects, identified with a finite beginning and ending date and a deadline for using the awarded amounts. Beginning with the award of grants in 2025, the grantees will have 24 months in which to expend their funds. After that time has passed, any unused funds will be returned to the Unrestricted Grant Reserve Fund. In the past three or four years we have been able to fund the upgrades to the lighting and sound in the Dr. Argue Great Hall, deep clean the kitchen and provide additional storage, and support the PHUMC Worship Camp for introducing Youth to the ins and outs of creating and executing the worship experience.