Planned Giving & Donating
The Fund for the Diaconate is the legacy of the deaconesses of The Episcopal Church, and many others who supported them and their ministries between 1927 and 1970. Started as The Retiring Fund for their colleagues who needed to retire from their ministry but did not have the family support to do so, the deaconesses raised money from among themselves, the United Thank Offering, the Episcopal Church Women, and the parishes which had benefited from their ministry. The first payments to retired deaconesses were made in 1932. In 1990, the name changed to The Fund for the Diaconate and male deacons were allowed to vote and receive grants.

The deaconesses and their successors have carefully managed the funds given to us over the years. From the first $50,000, raised during the Great Depression, the endowment now stands at $8,000,000. Today, the Fund operates and gives out grants from the income of that endowment.
Gifts and donations to the Fund are welcomed, so that we can continue to meet the needs of the deacons who come to us, as well as those in the process of becoming deacons. All contributions are carefully invested, and the income is used to support our grants. ​
PLANNED GIVING
Leave a legacy gift for deacons
You can make a meaningful impact on deacons and those in formation. Planned Giving to The Fund for the Diaconate enables us to provide more financial assistance to deacons and those in formation who have insufficient funds for their needs, or are facing a crisis.
There are three ways you can make a Planned Gift
  1. ​Bequests: ​​Include The Fund for the Diaconate of The Episcopal Church in your will. If you have had any major changes in your family – marriage, divorce, death, children born or reached maturity, relocation – it is time to revisit your estate plans.
  2. Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA  If you are at least 70½ years of age, you may direct your retirement plan manager to send up to $100,000 of your IRA to The Fund, as an IRS qualified charity. If you are at least 72 years old, doing so will avoid your having to pay income tax on that portion of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). The IRS website provides detailed information.
  3. Beneficiary Designation Naming The Fund as the beneficiary of your retirement account can be a wonderful, tax-efficient way to make a legacy gift to support future deacons in financial need, thus supporting a diaconate that is so important to you. It is relatively simple to make a gift using the beneficiary designation form provided by the financial institution that serves as your retirement plan administrator or custodian.  You could also use a percentage rather than a fixed dollar amount, as investment performance may change. 
Other considerations: Use a percentage rather than a fixed dollar amount, as investment performance may change. 
​Download our Planned Giving flyer.
Resource Documents
Deacon Robert Franken, our former treasurer, discusses planned giving in these materials:
This information is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please contact your legal or financial advisor before making any decisions.
To begin a conversation about planned giving, estate planning and/or major gifts to The Fund, please contact our treasurer, the Rev. Brian Nordwick.
DONATING
Donations to the Fund are also welcome. To make a monetary donation, please send your check to our mailing address below. All donations are promptly acknowledged.
Mailing Address
​​The Fund for the Diaconate of The Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 12621
Charlotte, NC 28220
(800) 281-5421

​Tax ID: 23-7125960
Legal Address (if needed)
​​The Fund for the Diaconate of The Episcopal Church
℅ The Episcopal Diocese of New York
1047 Amsterdam Avenue 
New York, NY 10025-1798  (if needed)
Thank you for visiting!
​Your support enables The Fund for the Diaconate to provide financial assistance to Episcopal deacons, and those in diaconal formation, who have insufficient funds for their needs.
Make a Planned Gift
Board Only
The Fund for the Diaconate of The Episcopal Church
​​P.O. Box 12621
Charlotte, NC 28220
​​(800) 281-5421