Durham Friends Meeting Legacy Fund - Proposal Application

 

Introduction:

In May 2017, Charles Jordan, a member of Durham Friends Meeting (DFM), died. He left the meeting a 
$57,000 available immediately. In February 2019, another member of the meeting, Talmadge Neese,
died and left a gift of $54,000. DFM has a Major Gifts policy that states if any financial contribution exceeds 5% of the annual operating budget it will be credited to the Legacy Fund (DFM Financial Management Policy, rev. 2025) . Consistent with this policy, these major gifts were invested with Friends Fiduciary and are referred to as the Legacy Fund.

     Charles Jordan also established a trust account for DFM that has been managed by Edward Jones, a
financial services company. It has made partial payments over the last several years. The remaining
amount will be disbursed to DFM in May 2027.

     DFM has allocated money from the Legacy Fund for solar panels, emergency funds for meeting
attenders/members, entrance/exit assistance to doorways, signage for the campus and improvements to the sound system. Each of these expenses was approved by Meeting for Business.

     The following Principles will be used as a guide by the Legacy Fund Grant Committee when reviewing
applications for projects needing funding. Projects can be of a short- or long-term nature, but funds
must be requested and approved in advance of expenditures.

Guiding Principles:
Durham Friends Meeting is making these funds available as one means to have a positive impact in the
world. Requests should be aligned with Quaker testimonies: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community
and Equality.

     Money from the Legacy Funds will be used for projects within the Meeting as well as projects based in the community and connected in some way to a DFM member or attender. For example:

• Within the Meeting: capital improvements (solar panels), human capital investment (anti-racism training), or specialty projects (signage, accessibility improvements)

•  In the broader community: a new refrigerator for a shelter or supplies for an educational project by a teacher associated with Meeting.

Applications can be submitted by DFM members or attenders. All proposals should be seasoned by a
committee of DFM. If the committee finds the proposal is aligned with Quaker testimonies and DFM
values, it should write a minute of support to accompany the application. Projects must be in alignment with requirements of DFM’s legal status.

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PROCESS:

• Develop a plan for a project in line with Quaker values and principles.

• Present the plan to a standing Committee or a Clearness Committee for seasoning.

• Once linked to a Committee, create a finished project concept, in writing.

• Submit it to the Legacy Fund Grant Committee (LFGC) via this Google Doc application linked, or, alternatively, complete the pdf form at xxx and send it by email to xxx@gmail.com.

• If this Committee approves the plan it will submit the proposal with the individual(s) to Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business for consideration.

• Complete the project with periodic reports to LFGC.

• Submit a final report to LFGC that will be presented to Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business.

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