About the Anglican Musicians Foundation

The Anglican Musicians Foundation was incorporated as a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation in the State of Michigan in 1986. Because AAM is a member-based organization whose members pay dues (which are deductible as a business expense but not as a charitable contribution), the AMF was established to receive charitable, tax-exempt contributions; grow its funds through careful management of its investment portfolio, and disperse a portion of its income by issuing grants to individuals, programs and organizations.

Funding Projects and Building the Fund

Since its establishment, the AMF has received approximately $138,000 in contributions and proceeds from the sale of the “Catalogue.” Those funds have generated approximately $88,000 in additional income through careful stewardship of the Foundation’s investment portfolio. Of that $88,000, approximately $44,000 has been put aside as capital reserves and another $44,000 has been used to support, among other things:

   “Conflict and Closure”
   “Called to Serve”
   The Millennium Survey and its report
   Reprints of the “Catalogue of Anthems and Motets”
   An AAM/AMF booth at General Convention
   Mentoring Project and Anglican Musicians Seminary Music Initiative
   Commissions of anthems, service music and works for organ by more than two dozen composers

What we want to do

The Foundation will continue to fund worthwhile publications and programs, issue commissions, and support an AAM/AMF presence at General Convention. In addition, the Foundation hopes to: fund sabbaticals and/or research grants for members of AAM; assist with the establishment of a user-friendly and attractive website for AAM and AMF; develop programs that will assist and support musicians working in smaller parishes, and offer programs and educational materials that will encourage members of AAM and others to remember the Foundation in their estate plan.

The Present Challenge – to increase the Endowment $75,000 or more by 2010

The board of the AMF is working toward establishing ambitious but realistic short- and long-term goals and the challenge grant announced in Houston has the potential for helping us achieve those goals.

The challenge is for 100 donors to increase their 2007 contribution to the Foundation by $100 in 2008 and for those same donors to match or exceed their 2008 contribution in 2009. The first 100 increases of $100 or more (including increases from $0 given in 2007 to $100 given in 2008) will be matched dollar for dollar by our anonymous donor. This will result in an increase of at least $20,000 over 2007 levels in 2008, and another $20,000 over 2007 levels in 2009.

In 2007, contributions to the Foundation amounted to approximately $17,500. If 100 donors increase their contribution by $100 or more in 2008 and contribute that same amount or more in 2009, the endowment fund will increase by at least $75,000. Contributions from individuals and organizations are included in this challenge. The Foundation will cheerfully accept gifts from choirs, parishes, diocese, musician or clergy discretionary funds and, of course, persons who are not members of AAM.

If you have never contributed to the foundation, now would be a great time for you to take the plunge. As previously mentioned, approximately 50 members of AAM attending the 2008 Houston conference have already stepped up. We need 50 more donors to meet our challenge grant for the first year.

Thank you in advance to everyone who will help us reach our goal of $75,000+ for the foundation by the end of 2009. (Checks should be mailed to Treasurer Ernest Plunket, Post Office Box 8723, Atlanta, GA 31106-0723.)