The Advent Foundation
Margaret Moffett Law (1871–1956), The Advent (detail)
A Sacred Trust
With roots dating back to the early twentieth century, the Advent Foundation was formally established in 1983 by visionary lay and clergy leaders who recognized the need for an enduring source of financial vitality to support the Advent’s mission. Created by and for the Episcopal Church of the Advent, the Advent Foundation seeks to honor the parish’s history, sustain its present, and nurture its future. The Foundation’s primary purposes are:
- To hold, manage, invest, and reinvest gifts in trust for the benefit of the Church of the Advent and its philanthropic priorities.
- To employ prudent investment and reinvestment methods to ensure optimal preservation of assets and income from such investments.
- To provide continuity in the Advent’s investment and endowment program, supporting its charitable, religious, and educational efforts through its ministries and facilities.
Giving and Growing
The Advent Foundation is a permanent capital endowment comprised of three unrestricted funds and fifteen restricted funds. A percentage of the Advent Foundation’s assets are disbursed for specific purposes—such as community outreach or the preservation of the Church of the Advent’s historic campus—as stipulated by charter trust agreements. As of its most recent fiscal year end, the Advent Foundation’s assets stood in excess of $13 million.
While some of the Advent Foundation’s growth is attributable to long-term market performance, the Foundation benefits greatly from the generosity of parishioners and friends in the form of bequests, memorials, and tribute gifts. A tribute gift offers an opportunity to express gratitude or to acknowledge a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, graduation, baptism, wedding, or any other celebration). A memorial gift to the Advent Foundation pays respect to a deceased loved one while conveying sympathy to grieving families. All donations are gratefully received and help strengthen the ministry of the Episcopal Church of the Advent. Each gift is promptly acknowledged, and the amount is kept confidential.
Contributions to the Advent Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity, are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS regulations.
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Foundation Leadership
A board of five Directors, elected by the Vestry, steward the Advent Foundation. The Rector and Senior Warden also serve as Directors, with voice and vote, while the Parish Administrator and Church Treasurer play vital roles in the fund’s administration. An Investment Advisory Committee comprised of three parishioners with finance expertise offers additional counsel to the Board of Directors. The Foundation’s funds are professionally managed by an outside investment firm approved by the Vestry.
An annual meeting of the Advent Foundation is held each January immediately following the parish’s official yearly gathering. The Advent Foundation president’s most recent message can be found here.
If you would like further details about the Advent Foundation, including annual reports, fund descriptions, or giving opportunities (including planned giving), please contact Joanne Wood, Parish Administrator, via e-mail at JWood@churchofadvent.org or by phone at (864) 585-2268.
The 1848 Society
Many parishioners choose to remember the Church of the Advent through their estate plans and, in doing so, are members of the 1848 Society. No matter the size of a bequest, such gifts honor families’ Advent ties and create lasting legacies. Planned gifts to the Advent Foundation may be made in a variety of ways, including trust arrangements, retirement assets, or life insurance policies.
To become a member of the 1848 Society, please contact Joanne Wood, Parish Administrator, via e-mail at JWood@churchofadvent.org or by phone at (864) 585-2268; donors are not required to disclose gift amounts.
