Plymouth Magazine-Spring24-FINAL - Flipbook - Page 22
McMillan was also generous in his gifts
to the Iowa Methodist Medical Center’s
foundation, and for a fellowship in
radiology named after him at the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Hall wouldn’t have been fixed. And we
wouldn’t have been able to develop the
plans we’re going to use, to do the work
that’s needed on the roof and other big
projects.
The Plymouth Foundation grew slowly in
its first 20-plus years. Total assets by the
summer of 2004 were $3.6 million.
“So, yes, what the Plymouth Foundation
does is very important.”
Along the way, the foundation board
decided to contract with a professional
financial services company, and for about
20 years, that’s been UBS Financial
Services in West Des Moines. The
manager of the Plymouth account is
Trevor L. Shaner, vice-president for
wealth management at UBS.
The foundation gives annual competitive
grants, usually of a few thousand dollars,
to Plymouth’s various organizations
to use in their ministries and service. t
also awards occasional strategic grants
of significantly more money for larger
projects of the church. And in recent
years, it has begun awarding even larger
sustainability grants – only at the request
of the church’s Board of Trustees and
senior pastor – for major expenses
with the building, larger property and
essential infrastructure improvements.
The foundation gave more than $1.4
million sustainability grants in the last
two years addressing urgent infrastructure
needs, according to Ed Bittle, past-chair of
the Buildings and Grounds Committee.
“We’ve got a 100-year-old building that
already needed a lot of updating, and
then we had a derecho and a hailstorm,”
said Bittle.
“If it wasn’t for the Plymouth Foundation
stepping up, we wouldn’t have had air
conditioning one summer. We would
have been operating with a limited
boiler one winter. We wouldn’t have
near the technology that we now have
for all our internet and online uses. We
wouldn’t have the computerized door
system. The elevator outside Waveland
Wortman said the foundation “was
an important piece of my considering
relocation to Plymouth,” from Atlanta,
Ga., in 2021. “At a time when so many
congregations don’t have the resources
to continue, foundations like the
Plymouth Foundation are more than a
testimony to legacies of the past – they
are ensuring a future legacy, too. The
Plymouth Foundation is a crucial part
of our ongoing ability to minister to our
community with health and vibrancy
for generations to come.”
He went on to say that “from Dr.
McMillan’s gift to the Sallade-Laverman
gift,” and a lot of other smaller gifts
in the meantime, “there is something
incredibly hopeful and inspiring about
those who believe in – and support – a
place doing good work beyond their
lifetimes. Maybe it’s a hazard of being a
pastor, but I have so much hope for the
future of ministry at Plymouth. I truly
believe that our work isn’t done yet, and
there is so much health and flourishing
awaiting us as a congregation.”
Growing the foundation and growing
the congregation are both urgent needs.
“In the past, there were some who
questioned whether a larger foundation
might dissuade people from giving to
regular, ongoing ministry needs and
causes,” he said. “I hope to be clear in
saying that the foundation has been
absolutely critical, and also that we’re
not in a position to think the generosity
of others has freed us from being
invested in the present and the future.
“We need the foundation,” he concluded,
“and the foundation needs us.”
Chuck Offenburger, the author of this story, is a Plymouth Church member and
regular contributor of articles for Plymouth Magazine. He is semi-retired after a long
journalism career that included 26 years with the Des Moines Register.
You can reach him by email at chuck@offenburger.com.
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COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATION
DEADLINE: APRIL 1
Competitive Grants are awarded twice a
year, in April and October. Applications
for competitive grants are due to the Grant
Committee no later than April 1 and
October 1. Competitive grant requests must
identify a specific member of the Church
who will function as the grant sponsor.
All grant applications must be signed and
endorsed by the sponsor, the chair of an
official board or committee of the Church,
and the Church pastor or staff member
responsible for oversight of the requesting
board or committee. Competitive grants
may be awarded to fund ministries,
programs and projects that are supported
by and consistent with the mission of
the Church. Competitive grants are not
for activities within the Church’s current
operating budget. If you’re interested in
applying, email Grant Committee Chair
Libby Jacobs (LibbySJacobs@gmail.com).
LEAVE A LEGACY THROUGH
THE FOUNDATION
As Chuck mentioned in his story, many
generous donors have made Plymouth
Church a part of their legacy through
contributions made to the Plymouth
Church Foundation. By sharing your
resources, your gift will be pooled with
other caring supporters to create a vibrant
future for the Church. Contributions can
be made during your lifetime, or through a
planned gift. We accept a variety of assets:
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Stocks and Bonds
Retirement Assets
Life Insurance Policies
Cash
Real Estate
Charitable Trusts
Tangible Personal Property
You can also leave legacy and estate gift
through one of the following:
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Wills
Living Trusts
Retirement Plans Designations
Contingent provisions in any of the
above estate documents
Please consult with your tax/legal advisor
to learn more about these planned giving
opportunities and how they would affect
your personal situation. If you have
questions, you may contact Senior Pastor
Jared Wortman or Director of Finance
Jim Denman.
