UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN

When it comes to growth, look to us for a full range of financial stewardship, value-aligned investments, planned gifts, and leadership development.

The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan serves pastors, church and ministry leaders, and individuals across Michigan. We come alongside your ministry to help you live into your purpose and vision. We offer a broad continuum of financial stewardship services, including value-aligned investment funds, stewardship consultation, planned giving seminars, grants, awards, and scholarships.

We provide value-aligned, socially responsible investment funds that allow investors to choose a specific asset allocation mix of equities and fixed income or a balanced fund. You can feel confident knowing that your resources are safely invested with companies that produce products or engage in activities consistent with our beliefs and values. Learn more about the UMF Collective Investments Funds of Michigan LLC today and discover why we are the preferred provider of investment services to United Methodist ministries throughout Michigan.

We provide a full continuum of practical consultations and workshops focused on helping faithful people live generous lives. We build planned giving programs, offer annual and capital campaign consulting, assist with budget and endowment development, preach on the spiritual discipline of generosity, assess local church financial wellness and best practices, manage local church assets, and a wide array of other services. Most of these services are offered at no charge to local churches as part of our ministry.

We are a ministry partner with you by providing mortgage loans and promissory notes. We also offer a highly competitive investment opportunity in the loan fund for Michigan residents, churches, and ministry organizations. Participants help to expand the ministry of local congregations. Though loans are used for a variety of purposes, they all benefit the ministry of local churches and organizations throughout Michigan.

The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan is committed to supporting clergy leadership excellence and financial understanding. As part of our commitment, we offer a number of Grants, Scholarships, and Awards.

Since 1926 the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan has been coming alongside congregations to help them live into their purpose. 2021 was no exception! Despite the continuation and challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we sought to provide innovative resources and traditional services to enrich the mission of the Church.
We recognize that building the financial strength of local churches is of paramount importance. This ministry has been and continues to be at the very core of our ministry. We partner with an increasing number of account holders to provide value-aligned investment counsel. In fact, our assets under management have grown by more than 2.5 times over the past decade – now exceeding $155,000,000. In addition, the permanent funds which are comprised of trusts, legacy gifts, and other designated contributions have proliferated to an all time high of $11,500,000.
This past year was a strong year for investment performance. UMF Collective Funds of Michigan LLC persuasively outperformed its respective benchmarks. The Balanced Fund, our most popular, value-aligned investment choice, gained nearly 15% in 2021. The Stock Fund (+22.12%) and the Bond Fund (+0.87%) rounded out a year of solid advancement. One of our goals is to partner with local churches by offering unparalleled ESG investments which strictly adhere to Wesleyan social principles.
We were excited to provide several dozen first time grants to smaller congregations. These virtual technology grants supported online worship efforts and totaled nearly $24,000. This past year was another banner year for our seminary scholarships. By providing over $100,000 in scholarships, we helped a diverse community of future and current pastors avoid debt and meet their educational goals. Without our generous support as a matching partner, some students would not be able to pursue their academic goals. As Beatrice Alghali commented, “You change lives. Your support has a long-term impact on me and the people whom I will be serving.”
One of our most innovative partnerships last year was a joint venture with Bishop David Bard, the Appointive Cabinet, and Dakotas Wesleyan University. We sponsored a highly intensive learning cohort, Stewarding the Church in the 21st Century. Taught by DWU faculty, this academically and practically rigorous course strengthens the ability of pastors to lead mission-focused, financially healthy, congregationally engaged churches. Moreover, participants are halfway toward receiving an MBA upon completion of this course.