St Paul’s Foundation
Supporting the Ministries of St. Paul’s UMC
About Us
The St. Paul’s Foundation
A Partnership of Giving
St. Paul’s UMC Foundation joyfully partners with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church to support our ministries, reach out to our community, and share God’s love and grace with the world. Members and friends of the church give generously to the Foundation to sustain the mission of St. Paul’s now and in the future.
Our Mission
We are committed to fostering a vibrant spirit of Christian stewardship and generosity to create a perpetual source of earnings, which strengthens the financial capabilities of St. Paul’s UMC and assists the Church in fulfilling its mission.
Since its inception in 1975 as 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation has multiplied gifts from our members to strengthen our faith community and transform the lives of others.
Ways to Join
Impact: There are two ways you can become a lifetime member and make an impact.
- Share a gift of $1,000 with St. Paul’s Foundation. Your lifetime membership gift will be invested in a permanent endowment fund to benefit St. Paul’s Church. Each year the Church receives a distribution from the fund. Enjoy seeing the impact of your gift during your lifetime.
- Name St. Paul’s Foundation in your future estate plans.
Benefits: Lifetime membership means your family will be remembered eternally for support to St. Paul’s Church. Your family will:
- be honored and remembered each year at the John Wesley Heritage Society luncheon.
- be lifetime members (also known as John Wesley Heritage Society).
- receive a lifetime member decal.
- be part of something bigger that supports the church you love, joining with 100 other members to create a bright future for St. Paul’s Church.
- be recognized on the website.
Leaving a Legacy
Many individuals name St. Paul’s Foundation in their wills to ensure their legacy and values will live on beyond their lifetimes. If you’d like to include the Foundation in your financial planning, it can be helpful to have a conversation to explore your options.
Ways To Give
The Foundation gratefully accepts gifts of cash or securities, gifts made through bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, retirement assets, and life insurance. Gifts may also be given to St. Paul’s through an endowed fund at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation to receive Endow Iowa tax credits.
Heritage Society
The John Wesley Heritage Society, known as Lifetime Members, honors the dedicated members and friends who have chosen to include St. Paul’s in their estate plan or who have made a current gift to an endowed fund. You can join the Society when you declare a gift to the St. Paul’s Foundation. Below is a window decal you’ll receive upon joining the John Wesley Heritage Society as a small token of our gratitude. Click here to see a list of lifetime members (updated quarterly).
Giving Opportunities
Where does your heart lead you to give? Do you have a passion for a particular mission or ministry of the church or an interest in some aspect of faith formation or worship? The Foundation offers a variety of existing funds covering a range of ministries, missions, and future needs, including:
- Unrestricted (allowing the church to respond to current needs and priorities)
- Leadership Support Fund: Imagine the exciting things your gift can do, such as
- protect and ensure competitive salaries for pastors and staff.
- retain critical staff roles that are essential to ministries (communications, hospitality, building repairs).
- secure a future for the Congregational Care and Parish Nurse positions.
- Church Council
- General Fund (operating budget)
- Missions
- Capital Projects and Maintenance
- Congregational Care
- Youth & Children’s Ministries
- Music Ministries
- Scholarships
To learn more about which opportunities speak to you, email our Foundation Director, Linda Henecke, or call 319-200-1066.
Every year, the Foundation’s impact grows. Here’s a snapshot of what we were able to accomplish with your help in 2025.
Foundation Staff
2026 Foundation Board Members
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors. All Directors are members of St. Paul’s UMC who are recommended by the Board and elected by the Church’s annual Charge Conference.
Dave Mahlke
Chair
Greer Fry
Member
Gregg Nelson
Member
Brad Hart
Vice-Chair
Ann Ghoske
Member
Bob Rush
Member
Cindy Edge
Secretary
Bob Gilchrist
Member
Matt Preston
Ministry of Finance Chair
Rev. Jonathan Heifner
Lead Pastor
Nancy AntonJensen
Member
Lana Lodge
Member
Stephanie Locke
Church Council Chair
Learn More!
Explore all the ways you can make a difference through a gift to the Foundation. Contact our Foundation Director at 319-200-1066 or by email.