Created in 1983 by the late Luther and Shirley Hodges, the Endowment is intended to be used for projects that are not part of the church’s established programs or paid for by the annual operating budget. Through the years, the Endowment has funded grants totaling more than $2.25 million dollars, including:
- approximately $1,650,000 in capital projects at Highland,
- over $240,000 in grants for missions and outreach locally and globally
- nearly $240,000 in special music grants,
- more than $61,000 in ministry grants, and
- $61,000+ in college scholarships.
We are thankful for the foresight of the founders of the Endowment, and we can all be proud of the impact of these Endowment grants!
Legacy Giving
Highland has a rich history of receiving gifts from members who wanted to continue their stewardship through a bequest, trust, or other instrument (their stewardship legacy) since the late Luther Hodges and Shirley Hodges established the Highland General Endowment Fund in 1983. Some of these gifts have been made to Highland’s general endowment for funding ministries, missions, and capital projects. Others have established named endowments or funds in honor or memory of someone. And others have established their legacy for a specific purpose: the music program, building maintenance, mission projects, and specific ministries.
No gift is too small – consider remembering Highland in your will or trust with a gift to the General Endowment. You can also establish an endowment or fund with a specific designated purpose. Please contact the senior pastor, the chairperson of the Endowment Committee, or the Legacy Leader to discuss and explore your interests in legacy giving.
For sample bequest language for your will or codicil, click here.
In order to help plan for their stewardship legacy, members of Highland are served by the United Methodist Foundation (UMF) of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Through the UMF, Highland members have access to a variety of gift planning services to help you make gifts to Highland both during life and after life to help you fulfill your stewardship legacy. Gift plans such as bequests enable you to continue your favorite missions and ministries as a legacy after death. Some of these gift plans provide income for the donor during life, have significant tax benefits and provide for your legacy to Highland.
The United Methodist Foundation provides a diverse set of news, planning, and other information sources. Should you want to discuss some of these options as they relate to Highland, please contact Highland’s Legacy Leader, George Deaton, at (919) 851-1255 or by e-mail. At the UMF, you can call Executive Director Rich Bowlin or Director of Legacy Giving Rev. Lynn Benson at 919-836-0029.
Endowment Opportunities
The Highland Endowment makes all kinds of ministries possible and is a resource to make God-sized dreams a reality in our service to God and our community. The Endowment Committee meets quarterly to consider grant applications for ministry funding requests, with an application deadline as the first day of each quarter.
You can click here to download a pdf that can be filled out in Adobe Reader. If it doesn't work on your system, you can get an application from the Endowment Committee Chair, or Highland's Finance Director Deanna Clack.