Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, has established the Endowment and Investment Program (the “Program”) for the purpose of providing members and friends opportunities to make charitable gifts to St. Martin’s that will become a source for long-term financial support and living memorials. The Program is intended to provide resources to grow and enhance existing ministries, to fund maintenance and capital projects, and to address special ministry needs and opportunities. 

The Program is administered by an Endowment and Investment Fund Committee appointed by the Vestry.  Program distributions shall be used as specifically described in the Program Charter, and for purposes that are not funded through the annual operating budget of the Parish and the regular annual giving of its members.

By making a charitable gift to the Program fund you transfer more than just a portion of your wealth — you pass along the values that are most important to you.  Please prayerfully support our endowment.  Freely you have received, freely give

Your Endowment Gift Keeps on Giving…

All gifts to the Program will be managed in a prudent and appropriate manner with the long-term goals of:

• Conservation of gift principal value.
• Growth of principal value to meet or exceed annual inflation.
• Production of a sustainable and growing annual distribution amount.

The Endowment and Investment Fund Committee will invest all funds in a prudently diversified portfolio of assets aimed at achieving the goals stated above.  The objectives are to conserve and grow principal and to make use of only the earnings and accumulated appreciation of the funds pursuant to an approved spending policy. The Program will include the following funds:

The General Ministry Endowment Fund: This is the primary fund of the Program, established for the purpose of administering charitable gifts that are not designated. Distributions may be made for needs as they arise, such as special one-time funding purposes, but not for recurring operating expenses.

The Maintenance & Capital Improvements Fund: Donors may designate all or a part of their gifts to this fund.  Distributions from this fund may be used for items such as HVAC systems, roof, foundation, parking area, as well as for equipment purchases.

Special Project Investment Funds:  At the direction of the Vestry, the Committee may establish one or more Special Project Investment Funds for purposes like special building projects, emerging ministries, or to provide matching support for new operating budget items. Gifts made here are not “endowed” and allow for distribution of amounts up to the entire corpus of each fund.

Donor Created Funds:  Individual donors may create separately named endowment funds for expressly designated purposes. The minimum gift amount is $50,000. Donors interested in creating a donor created fund are encouraged to contact the Rector or Wardens.

METHODS OF GIVING

There are many different ways of making a gift to the Program, and all gifts are tax deductible.  The info in this brochure is intended for educational purposes only, and it is suggested that you consult with your attorney or financial advisor before taking any action.

Cash  A designated amount can be donated over a fixed number of years that is deemed convenient by the donor.

Securities Stocks, bonds, and shares in mutual funds and exchange traded funds may be donated.  

Property Both real estate and personal property qualify as charitable gifts that may be donated to the Program.

Life Insurance St. Martin’s Endowment and Investment Program may be named as a beneficiary of life insurance proceeds.

Bequest  A gift made through a donor’s will or trust to benefit St. Martin’s Endowment and Investment Program after the donor’s death.  

Charitable lead or remainder trusts These can be an efficient means of gifting for individuals during and after the donor’s lifetime.  The donor can transfer assets to establish a charitable remainder trust and use trust income to buy insurance, and when the trust ends, the remainder of the trust passes to St. Martin’s.

Business Gift. Business owners may be able to make gifts and receive a tax deduction.

Matching Gifts. If you are an employee or participating retiree of a company with a “matching gift program” your gift may be matched if the gift is made to St. Martin’s. Please ask the Human Resources Department where you work if they have a program to match your donation. Current and retired employees may be eligible.

Other Gifts  Other vehicles for making donations to the Endowment and Investment Program are possible, for example, a charitable gift annuity.  

A message from our Rector . . .

Thanks be to God for the generosity of the people of Saint Martin’s parish church. Since our founding in 1953, faithful members of our community have graciously supported our mission and ministries to spread the gospel and to gather for worship in word and sacrament. Saint Martin’s Mission is:

To know Christ and to make Christ known, restoring all people to unity with God and each other. 

As we enter our eighth decade of service to the Chagrin Valley and to the world, let me commend to each of us the well-planned  initiative of our new Endowment and Investment Program. Thanks to the members of our Saint Martin’s Stewardship Ministry we have the wonderful opportunities for financial giving, as outlined in this brochure. 

We are undertaking this effort at this time in order to set our church on a firmer financial foundation. The challenges of the COVID years — felt keenly by each us — have taught us how important it is to come together as a community, to nurture faithfulness, and to take seriously the call of Our Lord when he said, “Freely you have received. Freely give.” 

The Episcopal Church has long taught us how our generosity is to include “Time, Talent and Treasure.” Now we are providing many more effective ways to live into our responsibility to practice good financial stewardship. Please consider how you might share in these new ministry opportunities. And “Thanks be to God” — in advance — for your generosity.

The Reverend Dr. John A. Cerrato, VI Rector of Saint Martin’s Church

For more information

Please contact The Reverend Dr. John A. Cerrato, Rector, if you have any questions or an interest in giving to the St. Martin’s Endowment and Investment Program. 

Contact information

The Reverend Dr. John A. Cerrato, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 6295 Chagrin River Road, Chagrin Falls, Ohio  44022

(440) 247-7406 / saintmartinschagrinfalls@gmail.com / http://www.saintmartinschagrinfalls.com