The Bridges of Unity Endowment Fund was established in 2003 by the UMC Foundation, now Foundation Investment Management. The fund is governed by an enabling resolution enacted by the General Commission on Christian Unity and Inter-religious Concerns (GCCUIC), whose work is now overseen by the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. The bishops seek to offer leadership in ecumenical and interreligious engagements, and this fund is designed to assist them in that effort. For the last several years an annual draw has been used to support ecumenical and/or interfaith ministries sponsored by groups within United Methodist annual conferences that seek to partner with ecumenical siblings to offer a stronger visible witness to unity in local contexts.
Questions you may be asking
How will my donation be used?
Your donation will be directly deposited into the fund and used to further its core purposes, as described above.
How are funds distributed?
Currently, the fund is being used to support the Local Initiative Grants ministry of the Council of Bishops. An annual grant application process identifies deserving projects and initiatives that are seeking financial support in order to accomplish their work. Two distributions are given to each grantee: One upon being chosen as a grant recipient and one upon completion of the project. All grantees must submit reports and photos that describe their work, share outcomes and tell impact stories. Learn more by reading stories about recent grant recipients.
May I donate via check rather than credit card?
Yes! Please note “Bridges of Unity” on the memo line and mail payments to:
GCFA Attn: Evan Dawoud/Bridges of Unity Fund; 1 Music Circle North; Nashville, TN 37203.
Can I make donations via planned giving?
Yes! Please contact us for details about various ways you can support the fund.
We embrace:
- Bank drafts and pledges
- Legacy giving, bequests and annuities
- IRA direct distributions
- Donor advised funds and charitable trusts