Endowment Funds & Legacy Giving

The Kirk is blessed with a number of endowment funds that provide considerable support of the annual operating costs of the church. These funds are intended to supplement member stewardship giving; not replace it. The principal is invested in assets that earn interest, dividends and capital gains. The principal is not intended to be spent, even as the value increases. The Board of Trustees, as part of their responsibility to preserve and protect the assets of the Kirk, carefully assesses the appropriate level of distributions from each fund.

Endowment Funds

Kirk in the Hills is funded through two primary sources, 1. the operating budget generated by the annual stewardship of members and friends and 2. withdrawals from the endowed funds created by the generosity of members and friends. Endowed funds differ from operating funds in two crucial aspects.

First, each endowed fund is intended for use by the Kirk in perpetuity. The principal is invested in assets that will earn interest, dividends, and capital gains. But the principal is not intended to be spent, even as its value grows. The Board of Trustees, as part of their responsibility to preserve and protect the assets of the Kirk, periodically assesses the appropriate level of distributions from each fund.

The second differentiating aspect is that endowed funds are established with intended purposes as specified by the original donor or subsequent donors of that fund and must be used exclusively for those purposes.

Our Endowment Funds

There are currently 23 different endowed funds. Donors can contribute to those existing funds at any time in any amount or, with specified minimum contributions, establish a new fund.

To give you an idea of what funds we have, and what kinds of new funds can be set up, some of the Kirk’s funds are outlined below.

For Maintenence and Facilities

Facilities Endowment Fund

This fund is used for repair, preservation, and restoration of the Kirk facilities and grounds and certain associated operating expenses.

DeWindt Altar Garden

This fund is used to maintain and care for the Altar Garden north of the Sanctuary.

Gardens Fund

This fund is used for landscaping, plantings, and care of the gardens.

Columbarium Endowment Fund

This fund is used for the maintenance of and restoration to the Columbarium.

Jessica M. And Robert L. Kelly Memorial Endowment Fund

Originally established in 1992 by a bequest from the estate of Jessica M. Kelly, this fund is used to maintain the grounds and edifice of the Kirk in the Hills at its present location.

Bells of Blessing Fund

This fund is used to maintain the Bells of Blessing bells, as budgeted and allocated through the Facilities Budget. This fund was originally established in 2000 by gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Karl Scott in memory of their daughter Deborah Jean, who died in an automobile accident at the age of 16, and by gifts from the Scott's daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Southwood Morcott, and by gifts from and in memory of Ruth Peterson.

For Music

Music Endowment Fund

This fund is used for equipment, music, recital series, or other programmatic expenditures.

DeWindt Special Music Fund

(Harold C. DeWindt Memorial Fund): This fund is used for special music in worship once or twice a year in memory of Dr. DeWindt. This fund was created by agreement with Mrs. DeWindt.

Marriot Memorial Fund

This fund is used to fund one concert or recital each year in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Marriott.

Hofley Family Special Music Endowment Fund

This fund was created by Norman and Carole S. Hofley in 2016. This fund is for special concerts, choir events, and music that compliments the worship of Kirk in the Hills.

For Adult Education

Adult Education Fund

This fund is used to support the educational program as administered by the Adult Ministry Committee.

Roger M. Kyes Endowed Lectureship

This fund is used for the Kyes Lectureship, bringing outstanding preachers and teachers to the Kirk each year in memory of Roger M. Kyes.

For Youth and Children

Youth Ministry Endowment Fund

This fund is used to help underwrite the cost of youth ministry.

Henry C. and Celeste L. Hall Endowment Fund

This fund is used to further the Christian Education of the children and youth of the Kirk.

Outreach and Mission

Paul J. Lay and Carol Lockwood Lay Endowment Fund

This fund was established in 2007 by Paul and Carol Lay. This fund is used for new churches and new mission development or redevelopment and transformation.

Outreach/Mission Endowment Fund

This fund was established in 2007 with a gift from the Viola R. Tetrault Trust by agreement with her family. This fund is used to support the Outreach and Mission program of the Kirk.

DeWindt Harrington / Theological Endowment Fund

This fund is used for Theological education and to provide grants to Kirk members who are pursuing a Theological education. This fund was originally established by Madge Harrington in memory of Dr. DeWindt.

The Eleanor U. and Thomas E. O’Hara Fund

This fund was created in 1997 with a gift from Thomas O’Hara for the establishment and operations of a program at the Kirk where works of various Christian missions will be featured.

Pastoral

Current Ministry Endowment Fund

This fund is used to provide support for current ministries of the Kirk.

Pastoral Endowment Fund

This fund is used for compensation for one or more of the Kirk pastoral staff and may be used for the Bill Robinson Residency for New Pastors, the Jim Anderson Fellowship for Congregational Care, or the Glenn Miller Fellowship for Children and Youth Music.

Other Aspects of the Kirk's Ministry

McKeen Technology Fund

Created in 2014 by Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McKeen, this fund is used to support technologies and technology infrastructure of the Kirk.

Miller Communication Fund

This fund was created by Bruce and Terri Miller in 2010. This fund is used for marketing communications projects targeted at recruitment and retention of membership.

Deacon Fund

This fund is used to support the work of the Deacons.

Legacy Giving: The Colonel George Society

Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

Legacy giving is donations members plan to make to the Kirk or another non-profit after they pass away. These donations are planned for in advanced and are executed at the appropriate time by the decision-makers (executor, trustees, or others) named by the donor.

Legacy gifts to the Kirk can be unspecified or they can go towards an existing or new endowment fund. These gifts supply the Kirk's ministries for years to come and honor the legacy of the donor and their family.

The Kirk's legacy giving program is The Colonel George Society.

Join the Colonel George Society by remembering the Kirk in your estate plan. The Gifts you give today to the Annual Giving Campaign provide the Kirk with funds for its current programs - strength for today! The gifts you leave at your death in your estate plan will provide the Kirk with funds for its future programs - hope for tomorrow! And if your gifts are left to one of the Kirk's endowment funds, then the gift will stay in trust so future generations can enjoy the Kirk.

How to Make Legacy Gifts

There are a number of ways to make an outright gift in your estate plan. Although the Kirk cannot give legal advice, below is sample language you may want to show your attorney.

To make an unrestricted bequest in your Will to the Kirk:

I bequeath $____ to the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, to be used for such purposes as the Session of such church determines.

To make an unrestricted distribution in your trust agreement to the Kirk:

Upon my death, the Trustee shall distribute $___ to the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, to be used for such purposes as the Session of such church determines

To name the Kirk as the beneficiary (or contingent beneficiary) of your IRA or life insurance:

Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

You may also make a gift at your death to one of the endowment funds at the Kirk. Although the Kirk cannot give legal advice, below is sample language to name one of the Kirk's endowment funds; you may want to show this language to your attorney.

To make an unrestricted bequest in your Will:

I bequeath $___ to the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, to be added to the [Name of Fund] if such fund is in existence, but if such fund is not in existence, then for such purposes as the Session of such church determines.

To make an unrestricted distribution in your trust agreement:

Upon my death, the Trustee shall distribute $___to the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, to be added to the [Name of Fund] if such fund is in existence, but if such fund is not in existence, then for such purposes as the Session of such church determines.

To name the Kirk as the beneficiary (or contingent beneficiary) of your IRA or life insurance:

Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, to be added to the [Name of Fund] if such fund is in existence, but if such fund is not in existence, then for such purposes as the Session of such church determines.

Death and Taxes

Nothing is certain in this life except death and taxes- and the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For IRS purposes, the Kirk is a charity that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is also considered a public charity (and not a private foundation). Distributions to the Kirk upon your death should qualify for the federal estate tax charitable deduction. We encourage you to consult with your estate planning or tax counsel on how the various federal, state, or local taxes may apply to your estate plan.

This web page gave examples of outright bequests or distributions to the Kirk- either unrestricted or restricted by being added to one of the Kirk's endowment funds.

There are other kinds of planned gifts that are not outright gifts, such as a charitable remainder trust that will provide you or others with a lifetime annual distribution and the remainder to the Kirk. A portion of those gifts may be deductible for estate or gift tax purposes depending on how those gifts are created.

Please consult with your estate planning and tax counsel with respect to the various kinds of planned giving options that might be suitable for you.

Through the thoughtful and generous contributions of members and friends, endowed funds broaden and deepen the Kirk’s ministry for us today and for future generations in our community of faith. For information about the endowment funds, making a bequest to the Kirk in your will, or making another kind of legacy gift to the Kirk, please contact the Business Manager at 248.626.2515.