Summit Support Fund
Our Vision
VPC has had a big vision for nearly a decade. We believed that despite declining religious affiliation, we could continue to reimagine church and make a difference. We wanted to grow in diversity and connect with younger families. With God’s guidance, VPC is accomplishing what once seemed impossible. Our church is growing in vibrancy, diversity, youth engagement, service impact, and hospitality.
More than ever, our world desperately needs communities committed to deep hospitality, connection across differences, and abundant generosity— following in the footsteps of Jesus. Communities just like the one that we are co-creating at VPC.
While we have seen tremendous growth in worship attendees and programs, our annual donations have not yet caught up with our experience and do not fully support the ministry needs identified by Session and the congregation. We need approximately $400 thousand more per year to sustain and grow our current programming.
The church is changing in the 21st century, and so is the way it is funded. Which is why we are inviting you to give to the Summit Support Fund in addition to your annual giving.
While annual giving remains our priority and primary income source, the Summit Support Fund provides an opportunity to give in addition to your annual giving including through appreciated stock, retirement accounts, property sale proceeds and other savings.
SUMMIT SUPPORT FUND FAQs
Got questions about what the Summit Support Fund entails? Here are some answers. If you have additional questions, contact the Donor Journey team, donorjourney@valleypreschurch.org
- It will allow us to expand our ministry to families and kids. Our elementary kids are quickly growing into young adults and we need more resources to support their spiritual, emotional and community growth. We will be able to expand our NextGen ministry to support middle schoolers and continue to provide support as they move into high school.
- It will increase the hours and salaries of our ministry and support staff, providing more opportunity for ministry and more stability for our staff.
- It will give us the capacity for more generosity to our partners in justice and outreach locally and around the world. In a time where funding is scarce, VPC wants to be a good friend to those who are making Christ’s love real in the world.
- It will allow us to expand the generous hospitality that has begun with community meals, care for those who are struggling, Sunday morning welcome, access to global faith leaders, support of our justice and outreach partners, and staff development.
- It will shift VPC’s mode from scarcity to abundance. While we will continue to be good stewards of our resources, we will be able to spend more time giving and less time conserving.
- Three million dollars begins to accomplish all of the above and will give us 7-10 years of stability while we build our annual giving and continue to live into this vision. More than three million dollars gives us the money to renovate our buildings, provide long-term benefits to our staff and increase our responsiveness to the world’s needs.
This is already a proven model at VPC. In 2021, VPC received a transformative venture investment gift of $1 million. This funding has enabled us to stabilize and enhance our administrative systems, expand our hospitality both within and outside our congregation. This gift allowed us to invest in Sunday mornings to increase accessibility and connectivity (in-person and online), connect with younger families, and improve pastoral long-term compensation.
The intent of this gift was to make VPC a more vibrant church, supporting our vision outlined seven years ago. While change is challenging, we celebrate the fruits of this gift, which have been stewarded responsibly and successfully.
With more investment funds, we can continue the good work this first gift began
- Session and staff will make decisions based on the vision that we have been following for the last eight years.
- While we understand that people want to give to special projects (choir, buildings, etc), we want to make decisions that are vision-based, not special interest-based.
- These decisions will be made within our Presbyterian system of representational government in conversation with the congregation.
Annual Giving is not adequate to fund many growing churches. As we have talked with pastors and advisers, we have learned that many churches are being funded by a significant endowment or have used a similar model to the Summit Support Fund, where visionary donors have helped to undergird the church’s vision. This has allowed them to extend a generous welcome and offer robust programming.
In addition, the coming years may be very volatile financially. We want to be able to continue to offer people a place to experience transformation and community. In a dividing and volatile world, VPC wants to be a place of reconciliation, spiritual sustenance and ready to respond to the needs around us and in the world.
Pledges will be accepted throughout the course of our 25/26 fiscal year (through June 30, 2026). You can access the commitment form here:
Your pledge will give Session the information they need to make informed and responsible decisions about our budget.
We hope to secure at least $3 million of new commitments in the next year through a coordinated and transparent outreach to the VPC family.
$3 million dollars will allow us to continue to grow our Next Gen programming and keep our current staff and programs.
If we raise more than $3 million, we will be able to consider adding staff and renovating our aging facilities, including handicap accessible lower restrooms and an updated Fireside Room and Redwood Room.
You can determine your giving rhythm and indicate on the commitment form what works for you. Upfront gifts are very much appreciated because they will allow us to make adjustments more quickly.