The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) is an inclusive, lay-led organization founded by The Rt. Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill in 1949. It is an independently governed and funded organization that brings together people, ideas, and resources from all parts of The Episcopal Church. ECF is committed to racial justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
ECF helps build, vitalize, and transform Episcopal faith communities focusing on formation, finance, and resources. Its goal is to be a catalyst, agent, and advocate for transformation, renewal, and growth in The Episcopal Church in practical, innovative, and spiritually-grounded ways.
Transforming Ministry
ECF supports endeavors associated with leadership and financial resource development programs. It honors and empowers the ministry of the laity, the Church’s vital heart. ECF serves Episcopal churches, dioceses, schools, and organizations in most states in the US with Endowment Management, Planned Giving & Stewardship, and Leadership programs. These programs inspire and nurture church leaders, help manage financial assets and provide high-quality and innovative resources and ideas to implement throughout the Church.
Initially, the resources from ECF were used to build The Episcopal Church’s infrastructure and extend its work across the nation and around the world. ECF developed a revolving loan fund to construct hundreds of Episcopal churches in the United States and the world and funded multiple local outreach ministries across the country.
In the late 1980s, the Episcopal Church Foundation transformed its strategies of operations inherited from Sherrill into a more programmatic portfolio. It turned over its church building loan responsibilities to the Episcopal Church Building Fund. It focused on new work areas, including clergy health and wellness, which later became the CREDO program, now administered and funded by the Church Pension Group (CPG).
ECF launched and spun off other initiatives dedicated to supporting and advancing a healthy and strong Episcopal Church.
In 1995, ECF inherited primary responsibility for planned giving throughout The Episcopal Church and began a new commitment to stewardship and philanthropy, including consultation and support for endowment management and general fundraising.
At the same time, ECF developed educational, and training events, transformed the popular monthly magazine Vestry Papers into the resource website Vital Practices, conducted Church-wide research, and enhanced its role in the broad area of leadership development. It plays a significant part in building the Church of the future. This work depends on generous contributions from individuals, foundations, and others.
The ECF team continues to produce new transformative tools and resources. One of them is ECF360, a new low-cost self-service subscription site for fundraising for the community.
The Latinx community is one of the fastest-growing populations in The Episcopal Church. In response, ECF has curated a number of high-quality Spanish language resources. In 2021 it released the Spanish Finance Resource Guide (GRF), which serves as a handbook for Latinx congregations to better understand and manage financial resources.
The Episcopal Church Foundation has published numerous books such as the Finance Resource Guide in English and Spanish, the Vestry Resource Guide in English and Spanish, Funding Future Ministry, Writing Your Will, Planned Giving, and Planning for the End of Life.
Bishop Sherrill’s leadership and vision for the Episcopal Church Foundation are consistent with the fact that it has not been burdened with the old but has instead lived creatively into the newness of these times. Today, ECF continues its growth and moves towards an innovative and creative future with the same hope while offering contemporary solutions through collaboration, convening, problem-solving, and experimentation.