Faith Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 that grew out of the United Methodist connection in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. We support faith communities through:
Our faith guides our decisions and leads us to socially responsible and ethically sound funds that reflect the values of our team and the ministries we work with. In partnership with Wespath, we manage endowments, long-term investments, and reserve funds on behalf of churches, camps, conferences, and agencies.
We help churches fulfill their missions by offering low-hassle loans for capital improvements and new construction. Interest paid on church loans goes back into our faith community, supporting churches that have invested rainy day funds with us.
We share and inspire stories of generosity and are committed to the lasting legacy of our clients and their congregations. Our staff brings 50+ years of combined experience to the table when we assist with endowment policies, procedures, and promotion.
We accept, liquidate, and pass through gifts of stock on behalf of faith communities, making tax-wise giving accessible for all donors.
We help guide people of faith in preparing a plan to provide for the ministries they love. We teach workshops, create materials, and work one-on-one with major donors upon request.
Staff
Julia Frisbie
Executive Director
Heidi Smith
Chief Financial Officer
Sara Culp
Operations Manager
Dalcetta Palepale
Outreach and Development
Dr. LaVerne Lewis, President
Gaye Pierson, Vice President
Barbara Dadd Shaffer, Treasurer
Chris Bafus
Pastor Buddy Gharring
Nik Halladay
Mike Hartwig
Rev. Chuck Hindman
Coyote Marie Hunter-Ripper
Robert W. Ives
Darrell Lowe
Cynthia MacLeod
Rev. Lynn Rabenstein
Em Rigler
Rev. John Watts
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth
Brant Henshaw, PNW and Alaska Conference Treasurer
Sara Goetze, Oregon-Idaho Acting Treasurer & Controller
Rev. Joe Kim
Sr. Kelly Marciales
board of directors
Officers:
Dr. LaVerne Lewis, President
Em Rigler, Esq., Vice President
Cynthia MacLeod, Secretary
Rev. Lynn Rabenstein, Treasurer
Members:
Chris Bafus
Pastor Buddy Gharring
Nik Halladay
Mike Hartwig
Rev. Chuck Hindman
Coyote Marie Hunter-Ripper
Robert W. Ives, Esq.
Rev. Joe Kim
Darrell Lowe
Gaye Pierson
Barbara Dadd Shaffer
Kelly Tazuko Marciales
Rev. John Watts
Ex Officio:
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth
Brant Henshaw, PNW and Alaska Conference Treasurer
Sara Goetze, OR-ID Acting Treasurer & Controller
HISTORY
The United Methodist Foundation of the Northwest was created by the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in 1966. Around the same time the Oregon-Idaho U.M. Foundation was launched. The goals of each Foundation were very similar and included:
To promote planned-giving programs on behalf of United Methodist local churches, Annual Conferences, and General Church boards and agencies;
To furnish counsel and guidance to local churches with regard to promotion and management of permanent funds;
To receive, collect, and hold in trust for the benefit of the local churches, Conferences, and the Conferences’ boards and agencies any and all donations, bequests, and devises of any kind or character, real or personal, that may be devised, bequeathed, or conveyed for any benevolent, charitable, or religious purpose, and shall administer the same and the income there from in accordance with the directions of the donor, trustor, or testator.
In 2009, the foundations merged and the name was changed to the Northwest United Methodist Foundation.
In the late twenty-teens, denominational division created complexity around what it meant to be United Methodist, and cultural shifts were driving new expressions of what it meant to be church. No matter how the faith communities in our region chose to identify themselves, we were determined to continue serving alongside all of them. In 2021 we changed our name once more to Faith Foundation Northwest, because we recognized that our organization’s future was both diverse and inclusive.