News & Stories

December 6, 2016 Impact story

2016 Highlights

2016 has been a year of big changes, new projects and an intentional focus on impact for ECF. Here are some of our favorite highlights of the year.

ECF’s New Home: On January 25, 2016, ECF moved to new offices at The Interchurch Center. The Interchurch Center is a unique location that currently houses over 70 non-profit organizations working in community development, education, religion, and philanthropy.

Impact Stories: This year, we’ve been focusing on the “why” by featuring stories on our program areas that show the impact our work has on churches, congregations and individuals across the country. Read about St John’s in Mt. Pleasant’s inspirational Capital campaign, True Sunshine Episcopal Church’s solar project through our Endowment Management Solutions, the importance of “Becoming Vital Teams”, Stewardship and Planned Giving, and the experience of this year’s Church Leadership Conference, which was a time of community and sharing for church leaders.

E-newsletter: Our very first e-newsletter launched in May this year. This monthly newsletter presents a glimpse of ECF’s programs, news and activities for the month. Check out the latest edition and subscribe to it here.

Church Leadership Conference: Presented by ECF and Kanuga, the Church Leadership Conference brings together vestries and other church leaders for learning, reflection, and formation. In 2016 the theme was “Be Still and Grow”. Learn about and register for next year’s conference here which will feature keynote speakers Rachel Held Evans and the Rev. Canon Frank Logue.

Donor-advised Fund: ECF has created a DAF program to address the philanthropic needs of our constituents and friends and continue to be a resource for endowments, planned giving, and high-impact philanthropy through donor-focused options.

First Step: ECF First Step is an on-line assessment tool designed specifically for parishes to help articulate challenges and/or growth opportunities as a first step towards prioritizing needs.

Lilly Endowment: ECF received a three-year grant as part of the Lilly Endowment’s National Initiative to Address the Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders. ECF’s grant proposal will provide lay and clergy leaders of the Episcopal Church with resources, tools and other support to help address the financial and leadership challenges of congregational ministry in the 21st century. Learn more here.

Vital Teams: ECF’s Vital Teams, now in its third pilot year, is out to change leadership formation in The Episcopal Church. As one of the only lay-led, independent institutions in the Episcopal Church, ECF has a unique voice and role to play in promoting strong lay and clergy leadership teams. Click here to learn about the pilot process and how it is now becoming a core program of ECF.

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