Endowment for Outreach
The Endowment Fund of St. John's Cathedral exist for
the betterment of the St. John’s community, both within and without, and to serve as an example of thoughtful and well-managed stewardship. While the Endowment Committee works closely with the Finance Committee to determine the dollars amounts to be distributed each year, the Endowment Committee makes recommendations for fund dispersal on as “as-needed” basis to the St. John’s Cathedral Chapter, which makes the final approval.
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Where does the money come from?
St. John's Cathedral Endowment for Outreach is primarily funded through honorariums, memorials, and direct donations.
Your generosity enables St. John's to give away approximately $140,000 each year to support organizations in our community.
The amount given each year is determined by
a set percentage of the interest earned from the ongoing Endowment fund.
You can make a donation to the Endowment by clicking the button below.​
Where does the money go? Our Ongoing Mission Partners
Click the links below to visit and learn more about our Ongoing Mission Partners
How are recipients selected?
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Priorities, but not necessities, for funding are as follows:
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• A requesting agency be private, non-profit and faith-based.
• Funds go to programs that promote individual self-sufficiency.
• Funds go to programs that are located in Knoxville, preferably the urban core
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How do organizations apply for an Endowment grant?
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Applications for Mission Grants are received by the Endowment Committee, assessed for missional fit, and presented to
the St. John's Cathedral Chapter for approval. Click the button below to apply for a St. John's Cathedral Endowment grant.
In addition to our Ongoing Mission Partners, the organizations below applied for and received an Endowment grant for 2025.
Click links to learn more about the organizations.​
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2025 Mission Grant Recipients
St. John's Cathedral Planned Giving
A planned gift is one that is legally completed during the donor's lifetime but whose principal benefits most often do not accrue to St. John's Episcopal Cathedral until some future date
-usually after the death of the donor. Most often, planned gifts are earmarked for the general endowment
or a specific endowed church program - using a portion of the earnings each year to support that effort,
in perpetuity. It is your legacy to your church.
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Creating Planned Gifts
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How Can I Make A Planned Gift?
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Contact your attorney or financial advisor to discern what form of planned gift is best for you and St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. Also, it is important to note that state, federal, and estate tax laws can change at any time. For more specific information about supporting St. John's through a planned gift, please contact Cathedral Administrator, Shay Boswell.
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Can I Designate Where My Gift Goes?
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Please contact Cathedral Administrator, Shay Boswell to learn more about the variety of Endowment accounts for your gift.​​​​​​​
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Planned Gifts Can Play an Important Role in Individual Estate Planning
and Wealth Management and May Include the Following:​​​​​​​​
A Bequest in a Will / Trust
A Bequest in a Will / Trust Perhaps the easiest and most common way of making a planned gift is through your will. By making a will, you appoint your own executor; you name the guardian of your dependents, you control applicable taxes; you can create a family or charitable trust; and you determine how your assets will be shared with your family, friends, St. John's Cathedral, and other non-profit institutions you love and support. ​ A bequest to St. John's can take the form of a specific dollar amount; a percentage of your assets; a remainder of your estate once all others have been taken care of; inclusion in a trust; or other form. ​ Sample language for including St. John's in your will might be: "I give, devise, and bequeath (state amount, asset, or percentage of the estate) to St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, 413 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, to be used for (describe use of gift) or, where there is the greatest need, as determined by the Chapter of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. ​ You may modify your existing will by adding a codicil with the language as above and referencing the date of your existing will. ​​
Charitable Lead Trust
The Charitable Lead Trust enables you to transfer assets to a trust that pays income to St. John's Episcopal Cathedral for a set period of time. At the end of the term, the principal and any capital appreciation returns to the donor or others the donor designates, such as children or grandchildren. There are significant tax benefits as well.
The Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)
The Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) The Charitable Gift Annuity is a written contract between the donor and the church in which the donor makes a gift of $10,000 or more in exchange for a guarantee to pay the donor a specific sum of money each year for life. The donor can also defer payment to a CGA to a future date, such as at retirement. There are several benefits: -A portion of the funded amount is tax deductible. -Approximately 50 % of the income the donor receives is tax exempt for a period of years. -Elimination of capital gains taxes if funded with appreciated securities -Possible reduction in estate taxes -No fees for establishment or maintenance
Gifts of Cash, Real Estate, Assets, and Personal Property
Real estate can be the source of your gift to the church. Using a Charitable Life Estate Contract, for example, you can deed your home, vacation home, farm, ranch, or condominium to the church and retain the right to live on the property and/or receive income from the property for as long as you live. You receive an immediate income tax deduction when the property is deeded to the church and normally avoid any capital gains taxes when making the transfer. Your inheritance and estate taxes may be reduced at the time of your death. Gifts of cash, appreciated assets, and tangible personal property, such as jewelry, coins, works of art and automobiles, may also be given to the church, in accordance with St. John's gift acceptance policy.
A Charitable Remainder Trust
A Charitable Remainder Trust is available to donors using assets of $100,000 or more. The trust can be funded with a variety of assets, including real estate. Like the Charitable Gift Annuity, the charitable remainder trust provides income for life, an income tax deduction, relief from capital gains taxes if funded through appreciated assets, and a possible reduction in estate taxes. Income fluctuates based on the performance of the portfolio. If you are seeking a fixed income annually, a Charitable Remainder Trust is an option to consider.
Gifts of Life Insurance and Retirement Accounts
Life insurance is another way to make a gift much larger than you ever thought possible. You can purchase a new policy designating St. John's Episcopal Cathedral as the owner and beneficiary or you can make St. John's the owner and beneficiary of an existing policy. Contributions to the church to pay the ongoing premiums become tax deductible. Also the remainder of many types of retirement accounts such as your 401k and IRA can be heavily taxed when left to friends and family; but they can pass tax-free to nonprofits like St. John's upon your death. You may want to consult your attorney or financial advisor to determine whether gifts of life insurance or portions of retirement accounts are viable gifts for your particular circumstance.