Bethel Community
Foundation: Endowment Funds

The Foundation maintains three endowment funds, in which only the interest is used when needed, but the original principal is left intact by the Foundation board of directors. The endowment funds are:

• Chaplaincy Fund:
  Created to build up an endowment that would fund the cost of a chaplain who would serve part-time in conjunction with another Lutheran congregation or fund the cost of a retired Lutheran pastor who would serve in such a position. At present, no such position exists, as the endowment fund is not sufficient yet to support such a position.
• Charity Fund:
  Created to provide financial assistance to any areas of Bethel’s ministry that needs funds to offset the lack of payment from Medicaid or another outside source. Financial assistance has been given in the past to those served in our intergenerational day program; assisted living or the nursing facility. As future reimbursements from Medicaid and/or Medicare are in question, this fund can help make up the shortfall that is often incurred.
• Scholarship Fund:
  Created to provide financial assistance to personnel who have desired to improve their education by enrolling in a course of training that will directly benefit those served within the Bethel Community. Award receptants agree to serve within Bethel for a specific amount of time, depending on the amount of financial assistance given by the Foundation.

The principal balance of the endowment funds are invested in the ELCA Mission Loan Fund, which enables the principal funds to benefit not only the mission and ministry of Bethel, but also provide funds for the building of new congregations and the expansion of existing congregations within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The endowment funds are invested at the direction of the board of directors of the Bethel Home Foundation, Inc.

All gifts given to the Foundation are fully tax-deductible as provided within the guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service.