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Purpose

The Foundation for Evangelism was organized in 1949 because of a deep commitment and concern of the late Harry Denman. He believed that Methodism is inherently evangelistic, but that Jesus Christ's command to "go make disciples" has to be held up constantly before the church. Therefore, this Foundation exists to challenge The United Methodist Church to expand its evangelism ministry and to help resource the same.

The financial resources of this Foundation are to be used within the structures of our church. In this context, there is a great interest in evangelism education of clergy and laity and in new evangelism projects. Grants are provided for United Methodist Theological Seminaries, the General Board of Discipleship, Annual Conference Work Areas on Evangelism, and special initiatives in evangelism.

Structure

The Foundation for Evangelism is an independent organization with an elected Board of Trustees consisting currently of 28 laypersons from the five jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church, and three ex-officio clergy members.

Its founder organized it to provide encouragement and funding for vital evangelism ministries while fulfilling its fiscal and administrative responsibilities. The Episcopal Director of The Foundation for Evangelism is a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church, and its Executive Director is a lay person. Both are accountable to the Board of Trustees for management of all the affairs of The Foundation.

The Foundation for Evangelism is an affiliate organization of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church and is approved to solicit gifts within the denomination. The Foundation receives no money from the general church and returns all its revenue to the work of promoting evangelism in The United Methodist Church.

Accountability

The Charter of Incorporation states that The Foundation for Evangelism is "...a separate fiscal agency adequately safeguarded to protect and defend the financial contributions made by donors, testators, or others, and to assure (the same) ... that the proceeds of their gifts will forever be used for the cause of evangelism as interpreted and spread under the doctrines of The United Methodist Church in this and other countries of the world."

Detailed program / project descriptions and planned giving opportunities are available upon request.

The Foundation for Evangelism is a tax-exempt non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) and 6033(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to The Foundation for Evangelism are deductible for federal income tax purposes under IRS Code Section 170. A copy of the annual audit is available.