Mission

Founding and Operation

Funding

Special Funds

Making a Contribution

In support of the Church, the Foundation has helped the congregation

• acquire land for its programs and for future needs (such as the building currently housing the food pantry, the building used for youth activities, and the building rented by Miller’s Carpet that may provide for future needs)
• has been a generous supporter of capital improvements and the purchase of equipment and services for the Church and School
• has aided in supporting special mission efforts of the congregation
• has underwritten unique training opportunities for the professional staff of the congregation.

It also has funded scholarships for many children attending St. James Lutheran day school and has offered assistance to St. James members who attend synodical schools. 

The St. James Lutheran Foundation of Lafayette, Inc. was established by five members of the St. James congregation in 1967 to support the congregation's ministries.  Although the Foundation is closely aligned with the mission of St. James Lutheran Church, it is a separate entity. 

The Foundation operates with its own Board of Directors selected from members of the Voters Assembly.   Members of the Voters Assembly are members of the Foundation.  Typically, the Board presents a slate of seven Directors, who have expressed a willingness to serve on the Board, for approval by the members at an annual meeting held in conjunction with the Voters Assembly meeting each January.  

The Board meets on a monthly basis to review investments, review needs of the Church, and conduct other business related to its mission. 

The Senior Pastor, the Business Manager of the Church, the Financial Secretary of the Church, and the President of the Voters Assembly are not voting members of the Board but frequently attend meetings.  

The Foundation is supported entirely by gifts.  The Foundation accepts individual lifetime gifts, memorial gifts, and gifts made by will or trust in any amount.   The Foundation accepts monetary gifts, including the gift of stocks or bonds, as well as the gift of real property.

The Foundation has established several specialized funds that are meant to benefit areas of interest within the Church.   Gifts not designated to a particular fund are placed in the general, unrestricted fund, which is used to support general needs of the Church at the discretion of the Board.  Some funds have been established to provide continuing, long-term support.  For these funds, the principal is intended to grow and distributions from the funds are made in accordance with the policies of the Board that allow for an annual distribution of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.  In addition to already-established funds, special funds may be established and distributed in accordance with the wishes of the donor.   Gifts may be designated to be placed in and administered according to the rules of any of the following funds.

School Endowment Fund --  Interest is paid quarterly from this fund to support the general needs of St. James Lutheran School.

Scholarship Fund – Provides tuition assistance to families sending children to St. James Lutheran School based on need as determined by a school grant committee.  Income only is available for distribution.

Synodical Education Fund  -- Provides tuition assistance to members of St. James Lutheran Church who are full-time students seeking degrees that will enable them to become called church workers and to teachers on the St. James Lutheran School faculty pursuing teacher colloquy.  Restricted to annual distributions of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.

Unrestricted Fund – Available for any needs or anticipated future needs of the church at the discretion of the Board. 

Music Fund   --  Available to enhance the musical programs of the Church.  Restricted to annual distributions of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.

Church & School Grounds Fund – Available for enhancing the beauty and increasing the functionality of the church and school grounds.  Restricted to annual distributions of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.

Outreach Fund  – Available to support St. James’ outreach programs such as the food pantry, VBS, and basketball camp.   Restricted to annual distributions of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.

Inreach Fund – Available for programs to enhance continuing contact and spiritual support of members of St. James.  Restricted to annual distributions of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.

Parish Education Fund – Supports  programming for Sunday School, VBS,  adult Bible classes, and other educational programming for spiritual growth.  Restricted to annual distributions of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.

Youth Programs Fund – Available to enhance programming for youth and assist with triennial Youth Gathering expenses.   Restricted to annual distributions of 5% of the value of the fund based on a 3-year average.

In addition to the funds listed above, members and former members of the congregation have established several special donor-restricted funds to provide scholarships to assist students attending St. James School, children’s books for the School, and other assistance for the School.  These funds are administered according to the donors’ wishes.

Gifts clearly marked as gifts to the St. James Lutheran Foundation may be mailed to the church offices at 800 Cincinnati Street, Lafayette, IN  47901, left with Church staff, or given to any member of the Foundation Board of Directors.  All donations will be acknowledged in writing by the Foundation. 

Gifts by will or from a trust should be designated to the St. James Lutheran Foundation of Lafayette, Inc.  You are encouraged to speak with a Board member before establishing  special rules for use of a gift made through your will or trust to ensure that the Foundation can accept the gift with the additional restrictions. 

Names of donors (not amount of gift) may be acknowledged in various written materials (including this website) UNLESS the donor specifically asks to remain anonymous.

For more information concerning:

-- Making  a memorial donation
-- Remembering the Foundation in my will
-- Establishing a trust that will provide income to beneficiaries for their lifetime and then revert to one of the various types of funds in the Foundation
-- Establishing a fund with the Foundation

please contact a member of the St. James Foundation. 

If you would like a member of the Foundation to contact you, you may send an e-mail using the form below.