An Update on The Episcopal Foundation, Inc.

Dear Diocese of Florida:

Through the course of the latter half of 2025, the board of directors of The Episcopal Foundation, Inc. carefully considered the future role of the foundation, and after prayerful review and discernment, the board unanimously approved the foundation’s dissolution.

The foundation board—an independent group of long-time, dedicated Episcopalians, separate from diocesan leadership—concluded that dissolution, and the subsequent actions outlined below, best fulfills the foundation’s mission and honors the intent of its donors.

With the foundation now dissolved, its assets have been transferred to the diocese. At the foundation board’s request, Diocesan Council voted to honor their recommended use of the now-former funds as follows:

• $2.145 million to the Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center Committee for:
  • Deferred maintenance repairs ($1.645 million); this generous repair funding is the cornerstone of restoring the camp and conference center to first-class operating condition. More support will be needed to continue that important work, and more information will be shared soon.
  • Interim operating reserves ($500,000) as the camp and conference center work towards supported sustainability.
• $200,000 to Trinity Parish, St. Augustine for the development of its North Campus.

The foundation has also requested that a portion of its proceeds be directed toward supporting the diocese’s campus ministry work. Diocesan Council and the Standing Committee are working together to revisit previous funding requests and develop a comprehensive process for understanding the needs of our ministries. This collaborative effort will enable us to allocate resources as effectively as possible to advance the mission and ministry of the diocese.

The foundation was one of several funds supporting diocesan ministries and work. The Nehemiah Fund (for development and other community needs) and Endowment Fund (for long-term ministry and operational needs) remain in place and are carefully tended by diocesan leadership.

As we move toward our upcoming bishop election, the diocese recognizes the importance of fundraising to support future ministry. This will be a key topic of conversation with bishop candidates, and a top priority for the new bishop. We look forward to those discussions and the opportunities that are ahead of us.

In Christ,

The Rev. Justin Yawn
President, Standing Committee