Funding the Vision

The Mission of the Idaho Episcopal Foundation is “To advise and assist the Episcopal
Diocese of Idaho and its parishes in attracting private financial support to aid in the
achievement of Diocesan and/or parish goals, and to manage the Foundation assets for
the maximum benefit of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho and its parishes.”

What is the Idaho Episcopal Foundation?

.. A source of grant funding for start-up projects or capital purchases

.. Support resources for parish efforts to encourage endowments and stewardship

.. An effective and secure place to invest parish endowments and other special funds

The Idaho Episcopal Foundation was originally incorporated May 4, 1984, to administer a major
bequest to the Episcopal Church in Idaho from Dr. John Moser of Cascade. The first grants were
awarded in 1985. In 1987, the IEF Board of Directors adopted grant guidelines, which provided
for a yearly regular grant cycle, with provision for limited emergency grants.

On March 1, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Idaho Episcopal Foundation adopted Revised
and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to initiate the expanded mission of the
Foundation. At a special planning session on May 3, 1997, the Board adopted the current
mission statement of the Foundation.

A Message from the President

Dear Members and Friends,

Who is the Idaho Episcopal Foundation?

While each of the Committees of the Foundation worked diligently on their appointed responsibilities (and I direct your attention to the individual Committee Reports for more detailed information), the Executive Board spent its efforts on answering the question above.  Led by the Rev. Wally Lonergan, we set upon the task of preparing a Strategic Plan, and we developed a revised Mission Statement:

Our mission is to support the leadership and strengthen the financial capabilities of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho, its congregations and related organizations, so they can pursue their mission and ministries.

So far so good – now we know who we are! 

But the bigger issue is that even though the Idaho Episcopal Foundation (IEF) has supported the parishes in Episcopal Diocese of Idaho for over 20 years, there are many here who have never heard of us.  Or they may have heard of the Idaho Episcopal Foundation, but don’t know who we are or what we do.  Or they may assume that we are part of the Diocese itself.  Like so many things, it comes down to a lack of communication.  We have resolved to correct this and to become more vocal and more visible from this point forward.

Expect to see our new logo and hear our new tag line – Growing Investments, Empowering New Ministries – frequently.  Share it with the members of your congregation.  Let them know that the Idaho Episcopal Foundation is here for them anytime your congregation:

• Has funds to invest;
• Needs assistance with endowments and planned giving;
• Would like a grant to start a new ministry; or
• Would like to make a donation to support the IEF.

My sincere thanks to Susan Wishney, our Executive Director, for all her hard work this past year to help us move up to this next level in our service to the parishes of this Diocese.  And many thanks also to the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board for their leadership of this great organization.  It has been my honor and privilege to serve as the President of the Idaho Episcopal Foundation for the 2009-2010 term, and I know the future will be bright as we continue Growing Investments and Empowering New Ministries.

With gratitude,

Nancy Wonderlich Koonce

Nancy joins this list of distinguished and dedicated Presidents of the Idaho Episcopal Foundation:

Executive Director’s Report

It has been an exciting and productive year for the Idaho Episcopal Foundation. Among the noteworthy achievements was the special recognition given to those who have contributed to the Bishop Rhea fund. The gifts to this fund make it possible for the Foundation to carry out our mission, including awarding grants to worthy projects across the Diocese. Each donor received a handsome wood and brass paperweight with their name etched on the brass, and this recognition will continue with each new donor.

The Foundation presented the first Bishop’s Banquet in April, and the highlight of the evening was honoring Marie Blanchard with the Excellence in Mission Award.  Exemplifying dedication and success in a project supported by the Foundation, Marie started and continues to run the Friendship Clinic, which administers healthcare to the economically disadvantaged. The Bishop’s Banquet will be an annual event, and each year a parishioner from our Diocese will be honored with the Excellence in Mission Award.

Under the radar but important, is the oversight of the investment portfolio by the Investment Committee. As you will note on this report, 20 parishes have funds invested with the Foundation investment portfolio, and they depend on regular income and fund growth for both annual budget needs, and long term goals such as building projects. At the end of 2009, the portfolio was up over 15% for the year: a very respectable performance during a difficult economy.

As Nancy stated in her message, the Foundation adopted a revised Mission Statement and Strategic Plan. Intrinsic in this plan are the current and long range goals of each of the five committees. The strategic plan will give us guidance along the way, and is structured to be flexible to change through time.

The success of the Foundation this past year and sound planning to ensure continued success going forward are a result of good governance by the board, and the participation in the Foundation by the members. I wish to express my appreciation to Nancy Koonce for her skillful guidance as the Foundation as President. The Board of Directors is a dedicated, hardworking team and it is rewarding to be of service to them. I also extend my gratitude to the many Foundation members serving on committees. Without your contribution, the success of the Foundation would not be possible.

Susan Wishney, Executive Director

Communications Committee Report

With the help of new committee member Joy Zaher, the Communications Committee continues to maintain the new website at the registered domain www.idahoepiscopalfoundation.org.

New committee member, Teri Cheyney, presented to the 2009 Diocesan Convention the IEF plans to implement several of the Mission Priorities that were developed as part of the Diocesan Appreciative Inquiry process.  The Communications Committee, through Teri Cheyney, assisted the Executive Director with compiling the 2010 IEF Annual Report.

Greg Hall, Chairperson

Recognition Committee Report

The purpose the Recognition Committee is to extend the Foundation’s appreciation to those throughout the Diocese who become Bishop Rhea Fellows and make unspecified gifts to the Foundation.  These donations support the grants to further ministries of the parishes and sponsor outreach programs throughout the Diocese.

IEF would honors new donors with paperweights.  Grant recipients receive small plaques that are placed in their church.   In 2009-2010 plaques were presented to three more parishes in recognition of their becoming Bishop Rhea Fellows.  The list of contributors was updated at Ascension, Twin Falls and All Saints, Boise.  Recognition plaques were placed at St. James, Mountain Home, St. Luke’s, Idaho Falls, St. Michael’s, Boise and St. David’s, Caldwell.

The Bishop’s Banquet was initiated as a fundraiser for the IEF.  It will be held on April 17, 2010 at the Arid Club in Boise.  As well as being a fundraiser, The Bishop’s Banquet will honor a parishioner who has dedicated themselves to a project or program supported by the Idaho Episcopal Foundation.  This event has been a cooperative effort of this committee, the Gifts and Bequests Committee and the Director of the IEF, Susan Wishney.

A traveling display has been completed with the new IEF Logo and tag line.  This was made possible by the joint efforts of Susan Wishney, Betsy Kaetzel of Catapult, Inc. and members of the Recognition Committee.

New members to the committee are Gretchen Burdin and Peter Perry.

John Beckwith, Chairperson

Gifts and Bequests Committee Report

The 6th annual Legacy Sunday was presented Diocesan wide by volunteers in December, 2009.  The program has been expanded to include references to Foundation activities.  The committee will be considering additional materials for distribution to those interested in learning more about Gifts and Bequests for the December, 2010 presentation.

This committee continues with an ongoing program of education through brochures and workshops on planned giving.  Through these efforts and presentation at Legacy Sunday, Episcopalians across our diocese are informed of the importance of preparing wills and remembering their church in their legacy planning.

Jane Camporeale, Chairperson

Grants Committee Report

The IEF Grants Committee is responsible for investigating grant applications and making recommendations to the IEF Board of Directors.

The work of this Committee happens once a year – usually in September – but then the work is fast and furious.  In the matter of a couple of weeks we receive and review the applications, meet (either in person or by phone) to assign site visits, make those site visits, then meet to discuss the applications and work out our recommendations to the Board before their meeting in early October.

During this past grant cycle we emphasized that IEF grants are to be made for the following purposes:
Start-up fund for new mission outreach ministries and new projects to assist in health education or human services
Equipment or other one-time purchases for the above types of projects
Establishment of new Diocesan congregations or renewal of existing congregations

Grants totaling $10,915 were recommended by the Committee and approved by the IEF Board for distribution beginning in January, 2010.  The following awards were announced at the 2009 Diocesan Convention in Burley.

• Calvary Church, Jerome    Renewal of Congregation   $3,565.00
  Calvary had been on a worship sabbatical since 2007, but has been meeting Wednesday’s for evening prayer.  In September 2009 they held their first Sunday service since the sabbatical, and their mission is to re-establish a growing and self sustaining congregation.

• Interfaith Alliance, sponsored by All Saints, Boise   Workshop Presentations   $2,500.00 The Interfaith Alliance will present workshops entitled “Undoing Oppression for the 21st Century” in four locations around the state.

• Paradise Point       Archery Equipment $2,850.00
  The new equipment will expand the recreational opportunities at camp.

• All Saints, Boise  New Kitchen Equipment for First Friday program   $2,000.00
  All Saints joins other churches on Boise’s bench in providing hot meals to the hungry.  New equipment will be purchased with the grant money to facilitate feeding the growing population who benefit from the hot meal served on the First Friday of each month.

Pat Harbert, Chairperson

Strategic Planning

For the past twenty-five years, the IEF has served the changing needs of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Idaho.  We realize that change is continuous in a dynamic society.  Therefore “strategy” is the organization’s “conception” of how to deal with its environment to keep up with change.

This definition implies that the organization must continuously reassess the environment and potentially reformulate the strategy.  Secondly, there are choices for the “conception”.  A strategy is a choice to deal with the environment in one way and not others.  “Strategic Planning” concerns how the organization will get to the defined direction.

In order to carry out our mission, we organized six committees: Executive, Grants, Communication, Recognition, Investments, and Gifts and Bequests.  Each is composed of members of the Foundation drawn from congregations in the Diocese.  Each committee establishes the plans for carrying out the Foundation’s direction as will be clarified in each committee report.

The Rev. Wally Lonergan, President-Elect

Investment Committee Report

The Investment Committee monitors the Foundation portfolio to prudently seek a reasonable return consistent with capital preservation.  The Committee meets quarterly to review the prior quarter’s performance with our investment Manager, John McCune, who represents Capitol Investment Advisors, a division of D. A. Davidson & Co.

The portfolio consists of funds held for the Foundation and the Diocese and funds deposited by Parishes.  Certain guidelines are required of the Investment Manager by the Foundation.  No more than 60% of the portfolio can be invested in equities.  At least two-thirds of the equity account must be invested in an S & P 500 Index Fund.  No more than 15% of the equity account may be invested in International securities.

For the year 2009, the fixed income account returned a sparkling 8.2% beating the benchmark of 5.3%.  The balanced account returned 15.7% (see Five Year Account Performance & Summarized Financial Information).

The Foundation’s Board recommends a distribution rate to the Diocese and participating Parishes calculated to permit them to withdraw maximum working funds without diminishing their principal investment.  During 2009, because of the down market, the Investment Committee asked the Board to reduce the recommended distribution rate of 3.5% in order to preserve principal investment.  Of course, this in no way prevents depositors from withdrawing more than recommended percentage or even all of their funds at any time.  For the year 2010 the Investment Committee is again recommending a distributions rate of 3.5%.

Bob Alexander, Chairperson

SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION – UNAUDITED
As of December 31,

FIVE YEAR ACCOUNT PERFORMANCE

How to Support the Idaho Episcopal Foundation

Bequests
Anyone wishing to make a bequest to the Idaho Episcopal Foundation may contact the Diocesan Office for assistance.  If you have already made a bequest, please inform the IEF office, either in writing or by phone at 208-860-9494.  You will be included as a member of the Bishop Tuttle Heritage Society which recognizes individuals who have made a bequest for their parish.

One Time Gifts
Gifts of any size are encouraged.  If designated for grant purposes only, gifts will be added to the Moser Fund, the endowment that is restricted for grant awards.  If unrestricted, gifts will be used to support grant awards as well as the other stated purposes of the Foundation.

Bishop Rhea Donors
The Rt. Rev. Frank Rhea served as Bishop of Idaho from 1942 to 1957. He was particularly devoted to the children of the Diocese and exemplified the spirit of charity and devotion embodied in the Idaho Episcopal Foundation. For a cumulative contribution of $1,000 to the Foundation, an individual will be recognized as a Bishop Rhea Fellow. Donors making cumulative gifts of over $1000 are recognized as Bishop Rhea Benefactors, and donors who contribute over $5,000 are recognized as Bishop Rhea Good Shepherds. An individual may contribute $100.00 or more per year as a Bishop Rhea Sustainer toward the higher levels.

Support Resources for Parishes

The IEF has been active in presenting workshops and disseminating material to help in carrying out Planned Giving ministries to fund the vision of individual churches in the Diocese of Idaho.  The following are some of the ways IEF provides this support:

Legacy Sunday
One of the top priorities of the IEF has been to develop awareness and interest among individuals in leaving planned or legacy gifts for churches in the diocese. Foundation members witnessed their own planned giving provisions and reminded others to do the same. Through this annual effort it is hoped more people will provide for their church in their estate plans. The IEF office has brochures available that describe a variety of ways individuals can make bequests for the support of their church.

Individual Directed Funds
The IEF administers several funds established to support individual churches in the Diocese of Idaho. Income and principal from these funds are available as directed by the donors. Contact the Foundation office to learn more about establishing a similar fund for your church.

Twenty parishes in the diocese have funds invested with the Foundation.  They count on the regular income and growth for both annual budget needs and long-term goals such as building projects and endowments.

Parish Endowment Fund
In 2005 the Foundation created a Parish Endowment Fund for each church in the Diocese of Idaho. These accounts allow individual donors to make gifts directly to a permanent endowment fund that will support the work of their church for years to come. The accounts are managed by the IEF Investment Committee, and regular distributions are sent to the designated church for their use. To make a gift to the Parish Endowment Fund for your church, send a contribution directly or designate a bequest to “Idaho Episcopal Foundation Parish Endowment Fund for the benefit of (your church)”.

Life Income Gifts
The Idaho Episcopal Foundation offers information on establishing life income gifts for churches in the Diocese of Idaho. Utilizing the resources of the Episcopal Church Foundation, such gifts can produce increased income, tax advantages, and long term support for the designated church. Contact the IEF office for more details.

The Bishop Tuttle Heritage Society
The Bishop Tuttle Heritage Society was created in 1996 to honor the Rt. Rev. Daniel Sylvester Tuttle, the first missionary Bishop of Idaho. The Bishop Tuttle Heritage Society recognizes individuals who have made a bequest for their parish, the Diocese of Idaho, or the Idaho Episcopal Foundation in their wills or through other planned gifts such as charitable trusts, life estates, or gift annuities. Please contact the Foundation office for more information or to be added to the Bishop Tuttle Heritage Society rolls.

Idaho Episcopal Foundation
Board of Directors for 2009-2010

Idaho Episcopal Foundation Members as of May, 2010

Growing Investments

Empowering New Ministries