Note from the president
Wycliffe Foundation
English - October 13, 2009 20:42 - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingGovernment Business Non-Profit gift planning estate design annuities wills bequests donor advised funds Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
By Don Erickson, President & CEO, Wycliffe Foundation In 1999, Wycliffe adopted Vision 2025 to help speed the process of Bible translation, acknowledging that a large gap existed between known sources of funding and the cost of accomplishing Vision 2025. Where would these funds be found? Among the many strategies that Wycliffe considered was the […]
By Don Erickson, President & CEO, Wycliffe Foundation
In 1999, Wycliffe adopted Vision 2025 to help speed the process of Bible translation, acknowledging that a large gap existed between known sources of funding and the cost of accomplishing Vision 2025. Where would these funds be found?
Among the many strategies that Wycliffe considered was the area of legacy giving. A few visionaries recognized that existing Wycliffe partners held valuable resources in their personal estates. How could Wycliffe help these donors recognize the opportunity to support Bible translation beyond their lifetimes?
In October 2002, the Wycliffe Foundation was officially chartered. By fall 2003, operations had begun and the process of helping donors establish estate plans was under way. Prior to that time, the process of planned giving did not exist inside Wycliffe. If someone asked how they could remember Wycliffe in their will, then a development representative stepped in to help accomplish that.
The creation of the Wycliffe Foundation established a professional, dedicated, full-time staff with the sole purpose of expanding legacy giving to Bible translation through Wycliffe affiliate organizations.
As of this writing, the Wycliffe Foundation has helped partners like you structure legacy gift plans that total more than $100 million. This has been possible in part because of a highly skilled and dedicated staff in the field and here in Orlando. They have assisted more than 1,500 people in the creation of a stewardship plan for their assets that meets their needs and desires and helps them honor God by contributing to the Kingdom work of Bible translation.
None of this would be possible if God were not leading and guiding the Wycliffe Foundation. From the beginning, we have characterized our organization as ministry. In the end, we are about helping fulfill the Great Commission.
Thank you for your partnership in that eternal work.