Services for Nonprofit Organizations
Churches are at the core of conservative Anabaptist life, but our faith and values extend beyond the church walls. Our people have created and supported many charities to reflect our values in action. Anabaptist Foundation supports these charities by providing a channel for anonymous donations, services to equip them for ministry, and counsel to help address challenges that arise.
Services & Counsel
Anabaptist Foundation does not operate a mission or relief program of its own, so it is positioned to offer impartial, third-party assistance and advice to donors, churches, and charities. Our goal is simply to support conservative Anabaptist churches and charities.
Our services include: organizational and fund-raising counsel, charitable solicitation registration assistance, speakers for special events, and networking opportunities. While we cannot assist in every situation, we welcome your inquiries.
Special Gift Fund
Occasionally, Anabaptist Foundation opens a Special Gift Fund to serve as a collection account for a specific need at an AF constituency charity. Such funds are temporary in nature but provide an opportunity for a wide variety of donors to contribute toward a specific goal, such as a building expansion or equipment upgrade.
Please contact us for additional information on Special Gift Funds.
Endowments
The Endowed Funds Program at Anabaptist Foundation provides long-term financial support for conservative Anabaptist nonprofit organizations. Endowed Funds are owned and held by Anabaptist Foundation for the benefit of the sponsored organizations.
Donors can use endowment accounts to provide long-term support for charities they value while remaining anonymous and avoiding capital gains on gifts of appreciated assets. An added benefit is that all endowment funds are invested back into our own church constituency.
Charities benefit because endowment funds may be established and administered without cost to the benefiting charity. The charity gains exposure to a broader base of support while benefiting from a predictable source of annual support.
Please contact us for additional information on Endowments.
Guidelines for Responsible Giving
Contributions to Anabaptist Foundation are irrevocable and cannot be refunded to the donor. Once a gift is made, the donor no longer has legal control over the donated assets.
As an IRS approved donor-advised fund, the Charitable Gift Fund allows donors to recommend which churches and charities benefit from their gifts, within the guidelines stated below.
The Foundation has the sole legal authority to make gift decisions, but we consider disbursements to charitable organizations which comply with the following guidelines:
- The organization has a clear statement of purpose, and its programs are consistent with it. This means that the programs of the organizations are related to its publicly advertised mission statement.
- The Foundation will not distribute funds to organizations whose purposes or programs are antithetical to the beliefs and Biblical principles generally held by conservative Anabaptists.
- The organization has a board which serves as an active and responsible governing body, holds regular meetings, and whose members have no material conflicts of interest.
- The organization discloses, upon request, a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service verifying its tax-exempt status. (Churches are exempt from this requirement.)
- The finances of the organization are independently audited at least once a year according to generally accepted accounting practices. (Churches are exempt from this requirement.)
- The organization makes available, upon request, an annual report which contains detailed information on program activities and finances.
- The organization responds promptly to reasonable questions from prospective donors.
- The organization’s general administrative and fundraising expenses do not exceed 30 percent of contributions. In other words, at least 70 cents of each dollar contributed goes directly into programs that carry out the organization’s stated charitable purposes.
- The organization promotes itself ethically, avoiding exaggerated claims, misleading statements, or deceptive photographs.
- While Anabaptist Foundation encourages donors to consider contributions to church organizations, these guidelines are not intended to exclude non-church organizations, such as local fire departments or other community-based, nonprofit organizations.
- Anabaptist Foundation will consider receiving contributions for charitable purposes that are not represented by any specific nonprofit organization, as long as they align with the charitable purposes of Anabaptist Foundation.