charlie kast Ministerial Development Fund
Reverend charlie kast (who used lowercase spelling for his name) served as minister of the Community Church of Chapel Hill from 1994 to 2006. Upon retirement he was named Minister Emeritus and continued to play an active role in the church until his death in 2022. charlie supervised six intern ministers during his ministry with our church. His legacy includes an inaugural internship program and support for a thriving religious education program.
charlie's Transformational Bequest
Toward the end of his life, charlie gave his entire estate – in excess of $500,000 – to the church. His initial gift included $150,000 for the capital campaign to expand our building, $50,000 to the Endowment, and $35,000 to establish a Capital Fund to fund capital improvements. Following his death, the Board allocated $100,000 of his bequest to repave the parking lot. With the remainder of his bequest, the Board voted to establish the Reverend charlie kast Ministerial Development Fund, with an initial balance of $175,000. Rev. kast’s ministry transformed our congregation. His generosity will continue to have a transformational impact on our church for decades to come.
The Reverend charlie kast Ministry Development Fund
This fund exists to support the development of ministers and religious professionals who are a part of our congregation. This includes funding for our Intern Minister program and the possibility of providing seed money for a second minister. At the discretion of the Board of Trustees, this fund may also be used for continuing education for religious leaders, sabbatical coverage, and ordinations.
In 2023, Jenn Kapranov became our first kast Ministerial Intern. 70% of her internship is being funded from the kast Fund. Additionally, the Board approved a request from Marion Hirsch, Director of Religious Education, to pay for a class at Meadville-Lombard Theological Seminary.
A Second Transformational Gift and a Challenge
In the fall of 2024, a generous member of our church donated $100,000 to the kast Ministerial Development Fund. This transformational gift brings the total value of the fund to over $250,000, allowing us to offer a ministerial internship in the coming year and beyond. As the fund grows, its ability to fund religious leadership will grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the relationship between the kast Fund and the operating budget?
A. The kast Fund is considered a Legacy Fund and is separate from the operating budget. The operating budget funds all the programs and ministries of our church, including staff compensation, facilities maintenance, and all of our programs. The operating budget is funded by pledges and we ask those in our congregation to fill out a pledge form as part of the Annual Pledge Drive each February and March. We recommend that members prioritize their giving to the operating budget through the Annual Pledge Drive. We ask that members not decrease their giving to the operating budget in order to give to our Legacy Funds.
Q. What are the Legacy Funds of our church?
A. Our church holds three main Legacy Funds that support the future vitality of our church:
The Endowment Fund protects the long-term financial security of our church. The Endowment Fund is invested with the Common Endowment Fund of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Investment income from the Fund is used to fund special projects beyond the scope of the operating budget. The balance of the Endowment Fund (as of 12/1/2024) is $320,000.
The Capital Fund supports capital improvements to our buildings and grounds. It also holds seed money for any future capital campaign. Following our most recent building project, completed in 2021, the Capital Fund was used to furnish our new spaces and install acoustical tiles in the Gathering Room. The balance of the Capital Fund (as of 12/1/2024) is $20,000.
The Reverend charlie kast Ministerial Development Fund is our third legacy fund and exists to support the development of ministers and religious professionals who are a part of our congregation, including the kast Ministerial Internship. The balance of this fund (as of 12/1/2024) is over $250,000.
Q. How can I contribute to a Legacy Fund of the church?
A. Anyone can contribute to any of these funds at any time, though we ask our members to prioritize giving to our operating fund through the annual pledge drive. Giving can be as simple as donating online or writing a check with the name of the fund in the memo line.
However, many people choose to give to these Legacy Funds as part of their long-term financial and estate planning. Many congregants have named the church in their will as a beneficiary of an annuity, retirement account, or life insurance policy. We ask those who remember the church to fill out a Donor Intent Form so that we may best honor their wishes.
Toward the end of his life, charlie gave his entire estate – in excess of $500,000 – to the church. His initial gift included $150,000 for the capital campaign to expand our building, $50,000 to the Endowment, and $35,000 to establish a Capital Fund to fund capital improvements. Following his death, the Board allocated $100,000 of his bequest to repave the parking lot. With the remainder of his bequest, the Board voted to establish the Reverend charlie kast Ministerial Development Fund, with an initial balance of $175,000. Rev. kast’s ministry transformed our congregation. His generosity will continue to have a transformational impact on our church for decades to come.
The Reverend charlie kast Ministry Development Fund
This fund exists to support the development of ministers and religious professionals who are a part of our congregation. This includes funding for our Intern Minister program and the possibility of providing seed money for a second minister. At the discretion of the Board of Trustees, this fund may also be used for continuing education for religious leaders, sabbatical coverage, and ordinations.
In 2023, Jenn Kapranov became our first kast Ministerial Intern. 70% of her internship is being funded from the kast Fund. Additionally, the Board approved a request from Marion Hirsch, Director of Religious Education, to pay for a class at Meadville-Lombard Theological Seminary.
A Second Transformational Gift and a Challenge
In the fall of 2024, a generous member of our church donated $100,000 to the kast Ministerial Development Fund. This transformational gift brings the total value of the fund to over $250,000, allowing us to offer a ministerial internship in the coming year and beyond. As the fund grows, its ability to fund religious leadership will grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the relationship between the kast Fund and the operating budget?
A. The kast Fund is considered a Legacy Fund and is separate from the operating budget. The operating budget funds all the programs and ministries of our church, including staff compensation, facilities maintenance, and all of our programs. The operating budget is funded by pledges and we ask those in our congregation to fill out a pledge form as part of the Annual Pledge Drive each February and March. We recommend that members prioritize their giving to the operating budget through the Annual Pledge Drive. We ask that members not decrease their giving to the operating budget in order to give to our Legacy Funds.
Q. What are the Legacy Funds of our church?
A. Our church holds three main Legacy Funds that support the future vitality of our church:
The Endowment Fund protects the long-term financial security of our church. The Endowment Fund is invested with the Common Endowment Fund of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Investment income from the Fund is used to fund special projects beyond the scope of the operating budget. The balance of the Endowment Fund (as of 12/1/2024) is $320,000.
The Capital Fund supports capital improvements to our buildings and grounds. It also holds seed money for any future capital campaign. Following our most recent building project, completed in 2021, the Capital Fund was used to furnish our new spaces and install acoustical tiles in the Gathering Room. The balance of the Capital Fund (as of 12/1/2024) is $20,000.
The Reverend charlie kast Ministerial Development Fund is our third legacy fund and exists to support the development of ministers and religious professionals who are a part of our congregation, including the kast Ministerial Internship. The balance of this fund (as of 12/1/2024) is over $250,000.
Q. How can I contribute to a Legacy Fund of the church?
A. Anyone can contribute to any of these funds at any time, though we ask our members to prioritize giving to our operating fund through the annual pledge drive. Giving can be as simple as donating online or writing a check with the name of the fund in the memo line.
However, many people choose to give to these Legacy Funds as part of their long-term financial and estate planning. Many congregants have named the church in their will as a beneficiary of an annuity, retirement account, or life insurance policy. We ask those who remember the church to fill out a Donor Intent Form so that we may best honor their wishes.