Capuchin Franciscans - Province of St. Conrad of Mid-America

Endowments

"It takes a noble person to plant a seed for a tree that will one day provide shade to those whom he may never meet."
- Unknown Author

Endowment funds are to the Capuchin Province what retirement funds are to an individual - they represent set-aside resources for the future. Donations to endowment funds are invested in perpetuity and only the growth in fair market value of the assets in the fund (e.g. interest and net appreciation) is available for the Province to expend as determined by the Provincial Minister and Provincial Council.

The Province has established the following endowment funds:

• St. Francis Seminary Endowment
   [for training and formation expenses]
• Capuchin Province of Mid-America Mission Fund
   [for expenses of the missions]
• Religious Support Fund
   [for aging friar care and retirement expenses]

Named Endowments

Several of our friends and benefactors have utilized endowments to perpetuate the name of a loved one while investing in the friars' future. For example, John Doe and his family are extremely committed to the training of men for the priesthood. The cost of educating and supporting a student from his initial acceptance into the Order to final profession is about $50,000.

During his life, Mr. Doe initiates the John Doe Family Endowment by making a contribution to the Province of $25,000. At the time of John's death, his family makes a gift in his memory of another $25,000 thus "completing" the endowment. Interest from this endowment will help support the men in formation for years to come.
Other friends have begun named endowments with much smaller initial contributions and then continue to add to them over the course of their lifetimes or until they are complete.

The Provincial Council has developed the following guidelines for establishing named endowments:

Requirements:

Minimum $500 investment is required to establish a named endowment fund (can be one or more individual gifts presented at one time).
Annual contribution activity thereafter is required to maintain the named endowment fund until such time as the fund is "fully funded."
An endowment fund is considered fully funded when it reaches $50,000.
Donations may be in the form of cash, securities, corporate stock and bonds, bequests, life insurance, charitable remainder and lead trusts, retirement plan beneficiary designations or a variety of other planned giving vehicles.
Donor may establish the endowment fund with no restrictions (i.e. to be used at the discretion of the Provincial Council), or may state a preference as to the area to be supported (e.g. formation, missionary activity, vocations, retirement)
Endowment funds will be invested in accordance with the Province's investment policies.

Donor Benefits:

Donors can leave a legacy by providing permanent support for the future longevity of the Province.
An endowment fund provides a lasting memorial tribute to the person/family named.
Named endowment funds will be listed annually in The Capuchin Questor (annual report).
Donors will be invited to Province's annual benefactor appreciation gathering.
Family, friends and associates may contribute to a fund in honor of the named person/family.
Donors receive annual reports on the status of the endowment fund.

Remembrance Programs

The Capuchin Province of Mid-America hosts two programs specifically designed to assist friends desiring to remember a loved one, either at the time of a special occasion, or at the time of death.

Capuchin Mission Association

The Capuchin Mission Association is a world-wide community of prayer through which members become partners with Capuchin missionaries who reach out to suffering and oppressed people in many lands. Their ministries help spread the word of Jesus' love and compassion. In appreciation for this partnership, many spiritual benefits are enjoyed by the Association's membership.

CMA enrollment cards are wonderful gestures of kindness and faith. They can be used for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, at the time of death, when someone is in poor health, etc.

There are four card designs offered including the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, St. Francis and the Crucified Lord, Madonna and Child and an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. All donations received through the Capuchin Mission Association are used to advance the work of the Capuchin missionaries in Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Click here to order a CMA enrollment card.

Capuchin Memorial & Remembrance Program

Enrollment in this program is exclusively for condolence at the time of a loved one's death. Each enrollment packet includes a memorial card to give to the family of the deceased, along with an envelope to send notification of the deceased person's name to the province, along with a donation.

When an enrollment is received in the Office of Development, the deceased person's name is inscribed in the Book of Treasured Hearts & Memories that has a permanent home on the friars' chapel altar at St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Denver. A letter of confirmation is mailed to the donor as receipt of the gift, and an additional letter is sent to the family of the deceased expressing the friars' sympathy for the loss. Gifts made through the Capuchin Memorial & Remembrance Program are used to support program needs of the Capuchins.

Contact Stephanie Pedersen to order Capuchin Memorial & Remembrance Program cards.