The Hope Endowment Fund is how Hope Lutheran Church does Planned Giving. It also serves to connect our congregation to opportunities for good works through grant requests.
God has given each of us the same opportunity—to build a foundation of faith for generations that follow. We will not be remembered by what we have accumulated, only by what we share as a legacy of faith.
Hope has two options for grants through the Endowment Fund: The Endowment Fund Grant and the Theological Education Fund Grant.
God has given each of us the same opportunity—to build a foundation of faith for generations that follow. We will not be remembered by what we have accumulated, only by what we share as a legacy of faith.
Hope has two options for grants through the Endowment Fund: The Endowment Fund Grant and the Theological Education Fund Grant.
Planned Giving
Hope Lutheran Church has a planned giving program which includes Legacy Endowment funding and Memorial funding.
The difference between a Legacy gift and a Memorial gift can be defined simply: a Legacy gift provides perpetual support for the church and its missions; a Memorial gift supports the church’s current opportunities.
The needs for a Legacy gift can be expressed in many ways. Here are just a few:
The difference between a Legacy gift and a Memorial gift can be defined simply: a Legacy gift provides perpetual support for the church and its missions; a Memorial gift supports the church’s current opportunities.
The needs for a Legacy gift can be expressed in many ways. Here are just a few:
- Provide a way to continue Christian stewardship beyond one’s lifetime
- Receive gifts from those who wish to remember loved ones in a lasting way
- Provide financial strength for Hope Lutheran Church to meet the challenges in the years ahead
Meet the Thuemmels - Hope members whose generosity in Planned Giving has been recognized by the ELCA.
The Theological Education Fund
Support the Call to Ministry
The Theological Education Fund exists to help those called by Christ as they enter Lutheran ministry. There are 6 criteria that must be met by a grant applicant. Those criteria can be found by clicking the More Details button below. The Fund is intended to PRIMARILY assist students enrolled in theological studies and who are related to members of Hope Lutheran Church in the Villages. However, the Fund may be used to assist students enrolled in postgraduate and/or continued education studies in areas leading to a career in ministry or adding to a minister’s knowledge and abilities which Hope Lutheran Church currently supports.
Some examples of study areas may include, but are not limited to:
- Masters of Divinity degree with the objective of becoming an ordained minister.
- Theological schools and seminaries that are not within the boundaries of the United States.
- Doctoral studies in ministry for currently ordained ministers.
The Committee may also consider awarding grants to other seminarians from the Florida-Bahamas Synod. In this case, the Committee should coordinate efforts with the appropriate synod committee.
The Theological Education Fund exists to help those called by Christ as they enter Lutheran ministry. There are 6 criteria that must be met by a grant applicant. Those criteria can be found by clicking the More Details button below. The Fund is intended to PRIMARILY assist students enrolled in theological studies and who are related to members of Hope Lutheran Church in the Villages. However, the Fund may be used to assist students enrolled in postgraduate and/or continued education studies in areas leading to a career in ministry or adding to a minister’s knowledge and abilities which Hope Lutheran Church currently supports.
Some examples of study areas may include, but are not limited to:
- Masters of Divinity degree with the objective of becoming an ordained minister.
- Theological schools and seminaries that are not within the boundaries of the United States.
- Doctoral studies in ministry for currently ordained ministers.
The Committee may also consider awarding grants to other seminarians from the Florida-Bahamas Synod. In this case, the Committee should coordinate efforts with the appropriate synod committee.
The Hope Endowment Fund Grant
Funding Opportunities:
Grant Deadlines
This FUND shall be administered in accordance with all terms, conditions, and provisions of this Continuing Resolution, Constitution, Bylaws, and other Continuing Resolutions, as in effect and amended from time to time, unless in direct conflict with the Agreement referenced in the Preamble of this Continuing Resolution.
Grant will be reviewed quarterly. Deadlines are: March 1; June 1; September 1; December 1.
- Scholarships or grants to members of Hope Lutheran Church for the purpose of attending college, seminary, nursing, or medical school; for church related camping or leadership conferences; or such other training which enables members of Hope Lutheran Church to grow in Christian faith and service to God's people.
- Outreach into the community including, but not limited to, grants to Florida-Bahamas Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America supported colleges, seminaries, social services agencies, institutions and agencies to which Hope Lutheran Church relates; to mission congregations of "Pinelands Conference" of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA; and to special programs designed for those persons in the Hope Lutheran Church area who are in spiritual and/or economic need.
- Missions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at home and overseas, including but not limited to, grants to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for new congregational development in North America, professional leadership training, educational ministries, global mission, ecumenism, evangelism, social ministries, and capital financing.
Grant Deadlines
This FUND shall be administered in accordance with all terms, conditions, and provisions of this Continuing Resolution, Constitution, Bylaws, and other Continuing Resolutions, as in effect and amended from time to time, unless in direct conflict with the Agreement referenced in the Preamble of this Continuing Resolution.
Grant will be reviewed quarterly. Deadlines are: March 1; June 1; September 1; December 1.
Our Regional Gift Planner
Churches in the Florida-Bahamas Synod are served by a Regional Gift Planner. This talented individual works closely with our Endowment team and our church leadership to foster successful gift plans, establish legacy gifts, and more!
A gift planner is a person who assists donors in making plans to leave gifts of love to family, ministries, charities, and other institutions. These gifts are often “given” (realized) after our deaths.
Gift planners offer their services free of charge, as part of their ministry with the ELCA.
A gift planner is a person who assists donors in making plans to leave gifts of love to family, ministries, charities, and other institutions. These gifts are often “given” (realized) after our deaths.
Gift planners offer their services free of charge, as part of their ministry with the ELCA.
Our Regional Gift Planner
Rev. Ana L. Lugo - Regional Gift Planner, ELCA Foundation
(904) 219-2769
(904) 219-2769
Ana.Lugo@ELCA.org
