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Permanent Fund Policy for the Walter Scott Camp & Learning Center

 

PURPOSE

The primary purpose of the Walter Scott Camp & Learning Center is to plant seeds for the future of all of God’s Creation in people that extend our values of faith, authenticity, curiosity, collaboration, and joy.

TYPES OF GIFTS

The Walter Scott Camp & Learning Center (WSC&LC) may be the recipient of end-of-life or other intentional gifts from friends of WSC&LC. Unless otherwise specified by the donor, all unrestricted end-of-life gifts or gifts over $1,000 received by WSC&LC will be added to the WSC&LC Permanent Fund and be governed by this policy while those under $1,000 will be placed into the annual fund for immediate ministry usage.

Donor-restricted end-of-life gifts will be held and accounted for separately from unrestricted Permanent Funds. For purposes of definition, restricted gifts are when the donor specifies the purpose for which a gift should be used or that the gift should be used to generate income.

WSC&LC is legally bound to use or to hold restricted gifts in accordance with the donor’s instructions that are reflected in a will, trust, or other legally binding gift agreement.

There may be an instance when WSC&LC would be well-advised to refuse a gift or bequest. Reasons for this action might include if the purpose of the restricted gift is not:

  • in line with WSC&LC mission priorities. 
  • if WSC&LC is unable to use the gift as intended, or if the gift does not seem to be in the best interests of the donor or WSC&LC. 

In such instances, if it is impractical or unwise to seek a modification of the gift restriction, the gift would be returned to the donor or the donor’s estate. 

Gifts to WSC&LC may come in a variety of forms, such as end-of-life gifts like bequests, the residual value of charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities, life insurance, retirement accounts, and other end-of-life gift instruments or direct gifts give before end-of-life. Assets in the form of stocks, bonds, real estate, tangible property and in any form other than cash will be converted to cash at its ethical fair market value as soon as practical. 

PERMANENT FUND TRUSTEES

The WSC&LC Permanent Fund shall be managed by the WSC&LC Advisory Board who will serve as the Trustees of the Permanent Fund. They shall: 

  • Receive, document, and preserve the original gift language of each gift.
  • Ensure that adequate record-keeping is maintained for donor-restricted gifts and that all donor restrictions are honored.
  • Publicize the Permanent Fund to potential donors, sponsor planned giving seminars, contact prospective donors and promote other opportunities which will bring growth in the Permanent Fund.
  • Recognize donors and honor those faithful stewards who have included WSC&LC in their end-of-life estate plans.
  • Review the activity and performance of the Permanent Fund and any donor-restricted gifts and provide a written annual report to WSC&LC constituencies. Such report shall include a list of new gifts received, investment transactions, amount spent for ministry, and total value of the Permanent Fund at year-end.
  • Distribute Permanent Fund income annually per the Fund’s spending policy as outlined in Annual Spending for Mission, Bullet #2 below. The spending policy has been set by the WSC&LC as part of this Permanent Fund policy.
  • Invest the Permanent Fund, subject to confirmation of the Region, and the donor-restricted endowment fund(s) in accordance with any donor restrictions. It is recommended that the Christian Church Foundation, Inc. be considered to manage all or part of the WSC&LC’s Permanent Fund and Donor-Restricted Fund(s).
  • Consider making a gift from their own estate plans to the WSC&LC Permanent Fund

ANNUAL SPENDING FOR MISSION

80% of unrestricted gifts will be considered permanent, and therefore are not intended to be spent; only the income generated by the Fund will be spent for the mission of WSC&LC. The remaining 20% will be placed into the annual fund for immediate ministry usage or major site infrastructure repair and replacement needs. 

Each year the income from the WSC&LC Permanent Fund shall be spent for the mission of WSC&LC.

Income is defined as a fixed percentage of the total market value of the Permanent Fund.  The Trustees will consider the recommendation of Income set by the Christian Church Foundation, typically in the 3-5% range.

  1. Gifts that have a purpose restriction will be spent according to the donor’s instructions. 
  2. Income from gifts to the Permanent Fund that do not have a donor-specified purpose restriction will be distributed to the annual fund for annual ministry expenses.

AMENDING PROCEDURES

Any changes to the WSC&LC Permanent Fund Policy will be made after discussion at two consecutive Board meetings and may be amended by a 3/4 majority vote of all the members of the Board.

TERMINATION

In the event that WSC&LC should terminate its ministry or cease to be affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the assets of WSC&LC shall be transferred to the Christian Church Foundation, Inc., of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with instructions concerning future spending. 

Adopted August 24, 2025