EPS Financial Policy

EPS is committed to providing lay people with a solid intellectual and spiritual grounding in the faith that is free of financial barriers. We practice "Gospel Economics," providing people the education they need--not what they can pay for.

EPS is funded through tax-deductible contributions from students, graduates, friends, parishes, dioceses and communities, all of whom benefit from EPS.

We do not charge a set tuition for our program. We expect all students to contribute what they can afford. Those contributions go toward covering the annual amount it costs EPS to see each student through the certificate program.

We suggest certificate and non-certificate students make a minimum monthly donation. However, larger donations are essential if we are to continue our mission of educating adult Catholics so they may live and share the Gospel.

We never turn away students who are unable to give the suggested minimum. We believe, as Pope John Paul II taught, that Christian formation is not the privilege of a few, but the right and duty of all. In the spirit of the Gospel, we expect all students to prayerfully discern what they can afford, fill in a confidential commitment card, and return it to EPS.

In sum, EPS:

Asks every student to contribute financially according to his or her ability. We suggest a minimum monthly gift. The average student gift is $54 a month, or $647 a year.
Relies on larger donations from students able to give them, since the average student gift does not cover our costs of $1,500 per student per year.
Never turns away students unable to give the suggested minimum.

In addition, we invite and encourage our EPS graduates and friends to consider matching students’ donations to help underwrite the cost of their education. By doing so, each donor becomes a companion on our students’ journey toward fuller, more active discipleship. A gift to EPS is a gift to the Church and the people who serve her in homes, parishes and communities.

EPS acknowledges donors by name and gift category in its annual report unless they ask to remain anonymous. Such requests are always honored, and donors’ addresses, phone numbers and other personal information are never released to outside organizations.

Giving Opportunities

The following opportunities allow you to give to EPS through a:

ü Personal Check: Made payable to Education + Parish + Service and mailed.

ü Direct Payment: Specified amount is electronically sent from your bank to EPS after you return the enclosed "Authorization Agreement".

ü Credit Card: Specified amount is added to your card after you return the enclosed "EPS Donation Card".

Various opportunities:

Monthly Donor Club:
Monthly donors choose an annual amount to give to EPS. Such donors send EPS a portion of this amount every month. For ideas, refer to the table on the opposite page.

Pledges:
A pledge is an amount and payment schedule that you design. Please let us know the total pledge and how you’d like to send it to EPS: monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.

United Way
Anyone participating in the United Way/ Combined Federal Campaign can name EPS as a recipient of his or her donation. Our 2007-08 United Way/Combined Federal Campaign number is 97659.

Be sure to indicate to United Way that you authorize release of your name to us so that we may record your donation.

Matching Gifts
There are more than 6,000 U.S. Companies that match employees’ gifts made to nonprofit organizations like EPS. Call your employer’s Human Resources office to inquire if your company has a matching gift program. If it does:

Obtain a Matching Gift Form from your Human Resources office

Fill out the form

Make your check payable to Trinity University,

Mail check with the matching gift form to:

EPS

Attn: Christine Jolliffe

Trinity University Campus
125 Michigan Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20017

For additional information, contact Christine Jolliffe at 202-884-9021.

Security Gifts:
Donors are encouraged to use securities to support the EPS program. It is important to transfer stock to EPS before it is sold; otherwise, you lose the tax benefit. Please give your broker the following information:

Broker:

Merrill Lynch
Private Client Group
1850 K Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20006

Contact Person:

Dawn M. Eichhorn
Senior Associate
202-659-5309 or
800-825-1521
Fax 202-659-6100
Dawn_Eichhorn@ml.com

DTC No: 5198

Account Name:

The Education for Parish Service Foundation, Inc.

Account No: 7WD04335

Also ask your broker to notify EPS of:

Your broker’s name and firm
Name and type of stock donated
Number of shares
Price per share at time of transfer
Date of transfer to EPS

Notifications of stock transfers often come without donor identification. We want to thank you for your gift in a timely manner. Please let us know the type of stock and number of shares you are transferring so we can identify your gift when it comes!

The Legacy Club

After providing for your loved ones, you may want to include EPS in your will.

A legacy can be a specific dollar amount, a piece of property, a percentage of your estate, all or part of the residue of your estate.

Legacies are free of estate tax, and can substantially reduce the amount of your estate that the government can claim.

Simply include the following words in your will:

I give, devise, and bequeath to The Education for Parish Service Foundation, Inc.; Trinity University Campus; 125 Michigan Ave., NE; Washington, DC 20017, (insert amount being given here) to be used to support the EPS Program.

We strongly recommend that you have a lawyer help you in drafting or amending your will.

Call us for more information about the Legacy Club.

The Endowment Fund

Establish a permanent fitting memorial for a dearly loved one or memorable occasion.

Provide long-term annual support of EPS.

All endowment gifts are held permanently in trust. Only the interest earned by the Fund can be used for budget support subject to Board approval.

Call the EPS Office at 202-884-9020 if you have any questions.

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