Considering a Gift to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Foundation
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.”
Genesis 1:1
This simple statement at the beginning of the Bible establishes once and for all the immutable relationship between ourselves and the world around us. All that we are, all that we have, comes from God and will one day return to God.
Jesus often talked about our relationship to the “things” we possess. In Luke 12:13-21 Jesus is asked about dividing a family inheritance. He replies with a story. A rich man decides to build
new barns to hold his bumper crop, then to “eat, drink, and be merry.” However, “God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
We are stewards of God’s bounty. Caretakers. For a brief period we are given time, energy, and resources. What we do with these gifts ultimately defines the character of our life and the depth of
our spiritual understanding.
Charitable giving, and particularly religious giving, should be a joyful and fulfilling experience. The knowledge that through your financial gift you are accomplishing Christ’s work in our community brings with it an incomparable feeling of gratitude. Returning God’s gifts to God’s use is the fundamental act of worship. It is vitally important that you be able to trust that your gift is being put to the highest and best use.
When you consider making a financial gift to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Foundation, Inc., you can be assured that the funds held by the Foundation are managed with the greatest possible care. The Foundation’s finances are audited yearly by regional accounting firm James Moore & Co., P.L. Copies of the most recent audits are available here on this website as are our latest tax returns. Your Foundation always engages the very best of investment professionals whose performance is overseen by Trustees with records of service and dedication to our Parish
Certainly you always have the option to make a gift directly to Holy Trinity Parish to be spent in the near-term, and that is never a bad choice. We hope, in fact, that your consideration of a gift to the Foundation will never be made at the expense of your annual Parish pledge.
A gift to the Foundation is a legacy – your gift not only to Holy Trinity today, but to future generations of Holy Trinity Parishioners. You may choose to earmark your gift for a particular use, such as funding scholarships, maintaining the Parish music ministry or empowering more active outreach, or you may choose to give directly to Foundation unrestricted funds to be directed as the Trustees see fit. The important thing to remember is that your gift to the Foundation will not be directly spent – it will generate ongoing funds to reach far into the future, ensuring the financial health of our Parish.
When you make a gift, be it a bequest, a direct gift, a life insurance policy or any of an enormous variety of financial vehicles, you will have the opportunity to talk at length with a Foundation representative or Trustee and decide how you want your gift to work for the Parish. If you’d rather make your gift quietly or even anonymously, we’ll be happy to facilitate that as well.
Your vision for the future of Holy Trinity Parish is the Foundation’s vision as well. Your gift will be applied as you direct, and will help create generations of financial peace of mind for our Parish.
If you are considering making a gift, please contact one of the Foundation Trustees, Executive Director Harvey Ward, or your personal financial representative. If you have already made a decision to give, the Foundation’s legal contact information is as follows:
Holy Trinity Episcopal Foundation, Inc.
Post Office Box 357399
Gainesville, FL 32635-7996
You may also click here for sample bequest language or here to make an immediate direct gift online.
Thank you for considering a gift to your Holy Trinity Episcopal Foundation. We hope this has been informative.
