United Methodist Foundation

In 1984, a small group of dedicated church members established the United Methodist Foundation of Santa Rosa.  They began with $2,000 and a dream that these funds, along with future donations, would help support programs and services that are outside the church budget. Each year since that time, donors have remembered loved ones in memorials, celebrated events, or honored deserving friends. Today, the Foundation’s funds total more than $736,000. Some gifts are designated for specific areas; others are used as needed for the church and community.    The funds are invested carefully and prayerfully and only the earnings are spent, thereby providing "forever" gifts.

Grants issued from 1986 to the present include:

• Land purchase for Stony Point campus
• New Ministries support
• College and Preschool scholarships
• Church maintenance and improvement
• Sunday School materials and Bibles
• Vacation Bible School
• Missions and other outreach programs
• Stephen Ministries
• Music Ministries
• Youth Ministries
• Adult Ministries
• Ludhiana Medical School, India
• Church organ renovation

In February, the Foundation hosted the first in a series of seminars on Wills and Estate Planning. Estate Tax Attorney Jim Avedisian provided practical (and entertaining) information to help participants formulate and update their personal financial plans, and protect estates and families. Future seminars are being planned.

The Foundation continues to provide for our church and community in ways that cannot be measured. That 1984 dream has become a blessing to the church and those it serves, and to donors whose own dreams are protected and directed in doing God's work.