Giving

Your gift to Calvary’s Endowment Fund enables you to continue giving to Calvary forever, providing the church with a dependable source of earnings in future years. You may contribute to the endowment fund through a gift of cash or stock, naming the endowment in your will or as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy, pension plan (401k) or IRA.  Contributions may be made at any time through listing “Calvary Church Endowment Fund” on your Offering envelope.

Each year the distribution from the Endowment Fund is added to the Annual Fund to provide scholarships to a Calvary family that would not otherwise be able to afford a Christian education in our School. We thank God for the generous gifts that provide more families with the opportunity to experience the blessings of a Christian education. Scholarship recipients are supported each school year. To give using your Offering envelope, mark “Schwark Annual Fund” or “Schwark Endowment Fund” on your envelope.

The primary purpose of Wessler Scholarship Endowment Fund for Education of LCMS Church Workers is to provide financial aid to Calvary students, former students, and their families in LCMS colleges, universities, pursuing a full-time church work career within the ministry of the LCMS. The fund was established in 2018 through the generosity of Mel Wessler and the Distribution Committee is pleased to announce that Calvary’s Youth and Family Director Sam Troemel is the first recipient. Sam is enrolled in the LCMS Specific Ministry Pastor which enables students to take seminary courses from a distance as they prepare for ordination. 

What belongs to me? There are three keys to this issue:

1. Everything belongs to God.
   People do not bring anything with them when they come into the world; when they leave the world, they will take nothing out.
2. Everything depends on God.
   God rules and directs all things in heaven and earth by His almighty power (Psalm 147).
3. Everything is to praise God.
   We have a purpose. All things in heaven and on earth — including us as His people and even those without life in themselves — glorify God, for all show His wisdom, His power and His love.

The General Fund is a pool of resources that the leadership of Calvary uses to fund the ministry – from pastor and teacher salaries to utility bills to mission support. Details of Calvary’s General Fund budget are provided to the members during the annual meeting in May and published in the annual report.

Designated gifts support specific efforts such as funding for a youth trip, disaster relief, or a special appeal. When you designate a gift, it will be used for that purpose.

An endowment is a fund where the initial donated amount (principal) is maintained and a small percentage, amount earned from interest, is used for a designated purpose. Calvary benefits from the generosity of several endowments. For details on establishing an endowment that benefits Calvary please contact the Business Manager.

Making a memorial donation in your will is a way to show your support for Calvary’s mission and ministry. Memorial gifts can support the general fund or can be designated for a specific purpose. Please contact Calvary’s Business Manager for language that can be added to your estate planning documents.

More and more companies are offering corporate matching programs. These programs will double, and sometimes triple or quadruple, an employee’s donation to a select nonprofit. Other times, companies will offer grants to a nonprofit if their employees volunteer their time at that organization. Your employer’s human resources department will have information on if there are programs available to match your contributions.

Also be mindful of ways to designate Calvary as a beneficiary of your purchases. Companies such as Thrivent, Amazon, and Krogers will direct a portion of your purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.