The Guilford Foundation

THE GUILFORD FOUNDATION OF GUILFORD COLLEGE UMC is a permanent Endowment Fund established by our church.  A written agreement provides that income from the Fund can be expended only for authorized purposes outside the church’s annual operating budget except under certain circumstances.  We encourage our members and friends to fund the Endowment Fund through their gifts, wills, or other means. THE GUILFORD FOUNDATION is administered by the Western North Carolina Conference Foundation of the United Methodist Church, and directed by a local advisory committee of our church.   

Gifts to THE GUILFORD FOUNDATION shall be classified as “Designated” or “Undesignated” and then assigned to one of the following categories:

• Mission Fund (for missions in and beyond the local church and community)
• Building Fund (for maintenance, improvements, and construction of facilities)
• General Endowment Fund (for special needs and ministries determined by the Committee)

For years our church’s annual operating budget has experienced substantial year-to-year increases, in spite of tight controls.  We desire to be intentional about meeting the growing financial demands for the proper upkeep, maintenance and replacement of our Church properties, our mission efforts, and other special needs and ministries.  An adequate Endowment Fund can assist in meeting these demands; our annual operating budget can be relieved of the pressure of these demands; and our Church can continue to move forward.

Yes.  The more THE GUILFORD FOUNDATION grows the more income it will produce - and the funds will allow our Church to minister to the growing needs of our church and community.

There are many effective ways to make gifts to THE GUILFORD FOUNDATION.  Gifts can be made in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, real estate, trusts, jewelry, and business interests.  The contributions can be made now or to become effective in the future.  A bequest under one’s Will is one excellent way, or by a codicil (a simple, inexpensive amendment to one’s existing Will) another.  Endowment gifts may be made in honor of or as a memorial to loved ones or other persons and can be made for specified purposes.  All Endowment gifts regardless of size are significant.

The reasons for giving are varied and personal.  Simply put, if God has blessed us with assets, don’t we, as Christians, have the responsibility to seriously consider giving some back to the Church to be administered in his name?  A gift to THE GUILFORD FOUNDATION is a gift that will continue to grow and serve the ministry of this Church beyond your lifetime for future generations to come.  There are often tax benefits, as well as personal benefits, that can be realized, depending on one’s form of gift and assets.

If you would like more information about THE GUILFORD FOUNDATION or would like to discuss a potential Endowment gift, please notify our Financial Director, Gloria Brown, at 292-5833.  She will get you in touch with a member of our local committee or the Foundation who can give you all the details.  You may also click here to connect directly to their website.


Gifts of Cash.  Deductible up to 50% of  adjusted income for individual itemizers; up to 10% of taxable income for corporations.

Gifts of Long-Term Appreciated Property (stocks, real estate, etc.).  Deductible for full market value at time of gift up to 30% of adjusted income for individual itemizers.  Capital gains tax is avoided when long-term appreciated property (held more that one year) is given.  

Estate Tax Deduction.  Unlimited deduction for federal estate tax purposes for cash or other property willed to a qualified charity at death.

North Carolina Taxes.  The higher your income or death tax rate(s), the more you generally save from charitable giving.  Therefore, additional allowable deductions for North Carolina income or inheritance taxes will result in additional tax savings from charitable giving.