The growth of endowments is an encouraging trend in the Orthodox Church. Endowments enhance service, stabilize programs, ensure against unforeseen catastrophes, and often support worthy causes beyond the parish. Sometimes however, endowments serve darker purposes. They may lull parishes to sleep or cause divisions when fierce debates arise concerning their use or how they may be restricted. Endowments can discourage sacrificial giving and encourage superficial church involvement and cynicism.

Stewardship Advocates applies professional development theory and methodology for endowments within the context of Orthodox ecclesiology and the realities of parish life. Endowment building is a highly technical field requiring expert counsel. It requires the implementation of a long-term strategy that accords to every church member the possibility of making what may be their largest gift ever to the institution they cherish most.

Stewardship Advocates can initiate a program or enhance an existing endowment building program in your parish or church organization. An endowment building program will assume many of the characteristics of a capital campaign including a leadership team, educational and training seminars, specific fundraising goals, major gift cultivation and solicitations.