History and Purpose
The Second Presbyterian Church Foundation was created in 1998 as a supporting organization to the Second Presbyterian Church and is an IRS approved 501c (3) corporation. The Foundation was created to support the programs, mission, and ministries of Second Presbyterian Church and at the same time facilitate the long term stewardship plan of members of Second for gifts over and above their support of the operating budget, world missions and special fund raising events like capital campaigns and emergency relief to victims of national disasters.
The Foundation is governed by a Session elected Board of Directors, that consists of 16 members of Second Presbyterian Church, six of whom are required to be elders. The Foundation may only support ministries and activities that have been approved by the Session of the Second Presbyterian Church. The officers and directors of the Foundation receive no compensation.
The primary sources of gifts to the Foundation are estate bequests, gifts through living trusts, memorials and special use gifts. Second members have provided outstanding support to the Foundation as assets have grown from $3.3 million at inception to $19 million after providing support to ministries and activities in excess of $7.6 million.
The ministries and activities supported by the Foundation are focused on educating and training future Christian leaders such as seminary student support, funding for pastoral and youth interns as well as support for MCUTS (Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies) and Crichton College. Ministries supported around the world include covering the costs of indigenous missionaries and church planters in Cambodia, India, the Muslim world, and Ukraine and adjoining countries.
Creation of the Foundation was approved by the Session as well as the members of Second as the successor organization for the historic ”Wills and Endowment“ Committee of the Session.
Responsibility to Donors
The leadership of the 2PC Foundation will change by necessity over the many decades ahead. However, the stated mission and purpose of the Foundation, as well as it’s responsibilities to donors will remain steadfast.
As a supporting organization to Second Presbyterian Church governed by Session approved Board of Directors, donors can be assured their undesignated living legacy to promote and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Memphis, America, and around the world will only be distributed to those ministries approved by Second Presbyterian Church. The donor can take comfort in knowing the undesignated fund will always be managed by like-minded Christian evangelicals who believe in the Reformed faith.
Information on how the Foundation is committed to protecting your gift.