Giving
- Details
- Last Updated on Monday, January 09 2012 11:23
What is the Eno River Fellowship Foundation?
The Foundation is a permanent endowment fund whose purpose is to provide financial support for the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. The Foundation's assets provide a lasting way to ensure the future of our shared values and beliefs. The Foundation is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from ERUUF, with its own Board of Directors drawn from ERUUF members. The Foundation’s current assets exceed $600,000 and we distribute up to 5% of assets each year, all in support of ERUUF.
The Foundation Board of Trustees: Rose Auman (Chair), Peter Aitken, Glenn Borg, Bo Glenn, Marilyn Hartman, Mark Kuhn, Doug Rhodes, Roberta Wood.
How the Foundation Operates
The Foundation supports ERUUF by funding grant applications that are submitted by members, staff, and committees. Funds are not provided for normal operating expenses, but rather for special items that enhance and assist Fellowship activities. Grant amounts range from under $100 to over $5000. Recently funded projects include:
- Wood floor for the Fellowship Hall
- Helped fund a Habitat House
- New lamps for the CARE Building
- Farm worker support - workshop
- Furniture for Urban Ministries’ shelter renovation
- Upgrade of computer hardware and software for the ERUUF office
- Fund Coming of Age youth attendance at retreat
The Grants Process
The grants process operates on an annual cycle. Preliminary applications are due by September 26, after which the Foundation board meets to discuss the applications. A board member is then assigned to work with each applicant to fine-tune the application. Final applications are due on November 1 and final funding decisions will be made at the board meeting on November 2. You will be informed of the decision shortly thereafter.
This year’s schedule is as follows:
· September 26, 2011: preliminary applications due
· November 1, 2011: completed applications due
· November 2, 2011: Foundation Board meets to decide on awards; applicants will be notified shortly thereafter
Please note that funds awarded in November 2011 are expected to be used or returned to the Foundation by June 2013.
2010 Grant Awards
The Eno River Fellowship Foundation received many excellent grant proposals this year, a testament to
the energy and vision of ERUUF members and staff. We could not fund all the grants, unfortunately.
The proposals that were approved, totaling $24,975, are as follows:
$14,000 to install a hardwood floor in the Fellowship Hall (made possible by a generous donation
of labor and at-cost materials by Genia Smith and Accent Hardwood Flooring).
$2,475 for a new shed for tool storage and facilities work.
$4,000 for upgrades to the ERUUF web site.
$3,800 to support a forum on immigration issues hosted by the Farmworkers Support Action Team,
$700 in support of the ERUUF Literary Journal
Who can submit proposals?
Any individual ERUUF member or group of members, any ERUUF committee, or any staff member may apply. The strongest proposals will not replicate or overlap work that is already being done by other groups within the Fellowship. Cooperative efforts are encouraged.
How much money is available?
The exact amount is calculated as a percentage of our total fund value. This year we estimate that about $20,000 will be available for grants.
For what purposes may those funds be used?
Proposals to enhance ERUUF may include requests for purchase of equipment, services, furniture, books, curriculum materials, publicity, seminars, etc. They may not be used for expenses that are typically included in the ERUUF annual operating budget.
Proposals that are most likely to be funded will meet the goals of ERUUF’s Strategic Plan. If funds are requested for an ongoing project, we would expect that the project will develop financial support from other sources after the grant period.
Submitting a Grant
This year we are requiring electronic applications for the first time. These are the steps to follow:
- Click to download the application form and open it in your word processing program.
- Use the Save As command to save the file with a name that identifies you and/or your proposal, such as “Jane Smith” or “Garden Tools.”
- Use your word processor to fill in the sections of the application.
- When finished, save the file again.
- Email the file as an attachment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. along with a brief message.
Your application MUST be received by the end of the day on September 26th. If you need assistance in filling out the application, please contact a member of the grants committee (Rose Auman, Bo Glenn, and Roberta Wood—contact information can be found in the ERUUF directory). After you submit, we’ll be in touch.
The Foundation’s History
In 1988 Bill and Fran Hollister expressed a wish to build a memorial garden at ERUUF’s new and permanent site on Garrett Road. The expense of the garden and its continuous care would require a fund of money that was not represented in the annual operating budget. A group of ERUUF leaders considered the options available to the Fellowship and a structure that would support the memorial garden plus other projects at ERUUF. The result of their efforts was the creation of the Foundation, to accommodate and facilitate the memorial garden project, and to assure the Fellowship’s financial support in perpetuity.
Those founding members were: Shirley Collins, Kay Edgar, Clara Yager, Rick Searles, Gene Magat, Charles Milone and Russ Schulke. Joining in the next year to help expand the Foundation’s development were: Gil Yager, Linda Brown and Rich Hammer.
Original donors to the Foundation included Ivor and Shirley Collins, Rick and Georgie Searles, Gene and Phyllis Magat, Philip and Helen Pratt, Warren and Joan Ganong, Margaret Hudson, Bill and Fran Hollister, Bob and Maggie Behn.
Through outright gifts, bequests, and return on investments, the fund grew to $35,000 in four years, at which point the Foundation board set a goal to reach $100,000 by the year 2000. This goal has been surpassed. By 2005 the Foundation’s endorsement value had reached $240,000 and as the result of a major bequest, passed $600,000 in 2007.
How You Can Help the Foundation Grow
When you make a gift to the Foundation, that gift lasts forever. And when that gift reflects your words and deeds, you get great satisfaction knowing that you continue to make a positive difference in perpetuity.
The Eno River Fellowship Foundation is named as a beneficiary in the wills, trusts, and insurance policies of several ERUUF members. Gifts of cash are made by individuals as memorials or tributes to a person; celebrations of important events; legacies in planned giving; and during special appeals.
Donations made to the Foundation are tax deductible as allowable by law. We urge you to consult with your own tax and legal advisors for a full discussion of the tax implications of gifts.
Although it is expected that the Foundation will receive monies upon the death of some members, it is impossible for us to calculate the amount of those contributions or the time at which they may occur.
Following are ways to make a gift to our Foundation. It is important to note that gifts or bequests to ERUUF are not transferable to the Foundation. Donations to the Foundation must be must be made directly to the Eno River Fellowship Foundation, which is a separate legal entity. This is for informational purposes only. Again, we encourage you to speak with your own advisors before making a gift.
ENO RIVER FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION
4907 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
If you have an account with Charles Schwab & Co., please write a letter of instruction to Schwab asking that shares be transferred to the Foundation’s account at Schwab. The account number is 7151-1306.
If your account is at any other brokerage firm, your letter of instruction to that broker should contain the flowing information:
Deliver via DTC Clearing 0164, Code 40, Charles Schwab & Co. for account of Eno River Fellowship Foundation (7151-1306).
When making gifts of securities, please notify the Foundation by sending a copy of your letter of instruction to the Foundation’s treasurer, Glenn Borg.
Your will may contain a provision for the Foundation:
Eno River Fellowship Foundation (TIN 58-1854360)4907
Garrett Road, Durham, NC 27707
You may designate the Foundation as a full or partial beneficiary of a retirement plan account such as an IRA, or an insurance policy, by naming the Foundation using the above information.
There are other means of supporting the Foundation which you may wish to discuss with your advisors depending on your age, your financial and family circumstances and your long range giving plans.
Eno River Fellowship Foundation Board Members
If you, or someone you know, are interested in learning more about the Foundation please contact any of the following board members: (Contact the ERUUF office for individual members' email addresses and/or phone numbers).
- Rose Auman, President
- Glenn Borg, Treasurer
- Peter Aitken, Secretary
- Bo Glenn, Co-Chair Grants Committee
- Mark Kuhn, Marilyn Hartman, Members at Large,
- Rev. Deborah Cayer, Larry Reid (ERUUF Board of Trustees member), Ex Officio
For specific questions regarding beneficiary designations, bequests, or transfer of securities please contact Glenn Borg or Mark Kuhn.
About the Foundation Board
The Foundation is managed by a Board composed of members of ERUUF. A Board member may serve a maximum of two consecutive 4‑year terms. As Board members rotate, new members are invited to join. All Foundation Board members must be approved by the Fellowship Board of Trustees.
About Wills and Trusts
Regardless of your intentions about leaving money to the Eno River Fellowship Foundation, we think you should have a will. We offer free workshops each year on wills and trusts. Please let us know of your interest, and we’ll be sure to register you in the next workshop. .
The investments of the Foundation are managed by our Finance Committee, consisting of current board members Glenn Borg and Mark Kuhn and past board members Kay Edgar and Leah Ogden. All members of this committee are financial professionals, and their goal is to invest the Foundation’s endowment to preserve the principal while providing income to fund grants.