St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation North Saint Paul, Minnesota

Foundation News 2025

3/4/2025

February 2025

Recapping 2024:
The Board of Trustees implemented a new policy for the grant process, enabling the Foundation to seek out and help many programs within the church and out into the community. These grants helped support the focus areas of mental health ministry, music ministry, and children, youth, and family ministry.

A highlight of 2024 was the “Sharing Your Legacy of Faith” brochure that was sent out to the St. Mark’s Church congregation. The brochure highlighted the wide range of people and groups within our church and community who have been helped by The Foundation. This help was possible because of the generous giving response from people who are “sharing their legacy of faith.” Of particular note was the support of family, friends, the congregation of St. Mark’s Church and the Foundation that made a trip to the ELCA Youth Convention in New Orleans possible for 10 youth, several chaperones, Pastor David, and Deacon Kate.

Foundation Week occurred the week of October 6 with the theme of “Sharing Your Legacy of Faith.”
Highlighted were the many grants given out that supported programs both within the church and out into the community. Rory and Jason Lamers spoke about how much of an impact the generous giving through the year had, especially for the youth trip.

The Foundation helped the following with grants during 2024:

• KidsFest 2024, hosted in September, invited everyone at no cost to attendees.

• The North High School band program will be helped to continue one-to-one or small group lessons at North on specified instruments with highly qualified professional teachers and musicians.

• Hope for The Brave, housing assistance for victims of domestic violence, and help for rental needs for families.

• Helping North High School families, a grant was given for food gift cards during the recent holidays.

• St. Mark’s youth were recipients of two grants to fund their transportation to the ELCA Youth Convention.

• The North St. Paul Area Food Shelf received help for the overwhelming food needs of the community.

• The Foundation helped fund the entertainment and pay for new members to attend the annual Progressive Dinner.

• Continued support was given for the Tanzania Secondary School Student sponsorship during 2025.

• Restocking supplies will be available for the first responders who use space in Fellowship Hall
for much-needed breaks for a meal or respite.

• The mental health group used its grant to encourage mental health wellness within our church and the greater community, to help end mental health stigma, and to support mental health education.

• Beautiful music was added to both Easter and Christmas services thanks to a grant.

Thanks to the generous donations during 2024 from both our congregation and he larger community, the Foundation was able to provide more than $22,000 in grants, which will impact many people’s lives in a meaningful and impactful way now and in the future.

Foundation News 2023 Fall Newsletter

9/14/2023

2022 Highlights "Sending God's Message Into the Future"

1/27/2023

A highlight of 2022 was Foundation Week October 2. “Sending God’s Message into the Future” was the theme with the focus on the interns and seminary students who have been helped with grants from the Foundation.

The following maps show where these young people have served, spreading God’s message throughout our community, the country, and the world. The Foundation has given more than $10,000 to the students personally or to Luther Seminary for the student aid program.

The following maps show the places the interns and seminary students have gone to spread God’s message.

Thanks to the generous donations from both our congregation and the larger community, since 1985 the Foundation has been able to provide $53,500 in grants to people and projects both within St. Mark’s Church community and out into the community. During 2022, the Foundation was able to provide $9,500 in grants which will impact many people’s lives in a meaningful and impactful way now and in the future.

Several of these grants were:

St. Mark’s Church and North High School personnel collaborated on a coat drive that furnished coats and other warm clothing to many families in the area.

Helping North High School families, a grant was given for food gift cards to the Polar Back Pack program during the holidays.

The Foundation continued its partnership with the Lutheran Social Services program “Circle of Welcome” to help with ongoing expenses for the Afghan family sponsored by St. Mark’s congregation.
The youth of St. Mark’s worked to raise money for God’s Global Barnyard and the Foundation helped them complete their goal.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Foundation as you have helped spread God’s word throughout the community, country, and the world.

December 2021 Foundation Giving Drive

12/1/2021

The St. Mark’s Foundation would like to thank the congregation of St. Mark’s for its continuing support of the Foundation. The Foundation is thankful to be able to help people in need and community organizations such as the Polar Back Pack program, the North High/St. Mark’s Coat Drive, and the North St. Paul Area Food Shelf.

The Foundation asks that you consider a special year-end donation to help us continue to carry God’s word forward. Donations can easily be made by sending a check to the Foundation at 2499 N. Helen Street, North St. Paul, MN 55109, or you can donate online by using the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church website, click on the “About” tab, then click on “Contribute” and scrolling down to the “St. Mark’s Foundation” box. The Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit chartered organization. Matching contributions are available through many work places, so check with your place of employment to see if the St. Mark’s Foundation would be eligible for matching contributions.

More information about the Foundation is available on our website: stmarksnspfoundation.com. Please email [email protected] with any questions or concerns you may have. Again thank you for your continued support and have a blessed holiday season.

Foundation Week – October 3, 2021

9/14/2021

The St. Mark’s Foundation welcomes everyone to join us as the Foundation celebrates Foundation Week 2021. As all of us continue to navigate this COVID-virus world, the Foundation board members want to remind everyone that we are continuing our mission to “Carry God’s Word Forward.” Look for the photo boards at church that show some of the recipients the Foundation has given grants to both within the congregation of St. Mark’s Church and throughout the greater community. Foundation board members will be available as ushers, greeters, and to visit with you between services in Rees Hall. There will be treats along with beverages, compliments of the Foundation.

2020 IRS 501 (c) (3) Filing Complete

6/29/2021

In accordance with IRS guidelines, each year the St. Mark’s Foundation has to file for its non-profit status. The Foundation continues to be a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to conveying the Christian message to people through excellence in worship, education and the building of relationships within St. Mark’s Church, the local community and global missions.

St. Mark’s Foundation is also required by the State of Minnesota to have an independent auditor prepare an audited financial statement of the annual budget. Fiscal year 2020 was successfully completed and submitted on February 15, 2021.

St. Mark’s Foundation continues to promote enduring opportunities for connecting present and future generations by being a place for receipt of gifts and financial bequests; for prudent long-term management of financial assets; and for thoughtful distribution of principal and earned income in manners consistent with the purpose and mission of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Please contact a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees for more information.

Kagitumba and Matimba Parishes Rwanda, Africa

5/26/2021

Emily Ronsberg, a daughter of the St. Mark’s Church congregation, with assistance from the Foundation in 2019/2020 joined the Young Adults in Global Missions(YAGM) group and spent 7 months serving in several Lutheran Parishes in Rwanda, Africa embracing families and communities with God's love.

A Foundation Status Update from the President

3/24/2021

The St. Mark’s Church Foundation, founded in 1985, continues to operate as a non-profit organization separate from St. Mark’s Church. During these years, the Foundation has been blessed with donations from members and non-members and as of January 1, 2021, had assets of $159,335.00.

During the past 10 years, we have provided grants totaling $22,734 to individuals, groups and organizations within the church congregation and in outreach to the nearby community and its people. During 2020, grants were awarded to the North St. Paul Area Food Shelf, and two daughters of our congregation, Jeanette Perrault and Emily Ronsberg.

We were successfully audited by an independent account in March and have appropriate checks and balances in place for our financial accounts.

Board Members for 2021 include: President Terry Kapaun, Vice President Craig Sterling, Secretary Barb Michel, Treasurer Tom Michel, Bill Pickett, Steve Linder, Rod Larkins, Paul Ellefson, Linda Kapaun, John Pottratz, Kathy Hanon, and Pastor Mary Froiland. Gerry Duffy is the legal counsel.

The Foundation relies on the generosity of people. Funding is received through direct donations, Thrivent Choice Dollars, Amazon Smile program and employee matching gifts. Gifts can be given at any time, and can be done electronically through the St. Mark’s Church website www.stmarks-nsp.org. Please feel free to contact any of the Board members with questions or comments.

Thank you for visiting the St. Mark’s Foundation website.

In Christ’s service,
Terry Kapaun, President

2021 Amazon Smile Foundation Donations

11/13/2020

Are you ready for the holidays? Planning to use Amazon for your shopping needs this Christmas? Remember that when you make purchases on Amazon, you can also be donating to the St. Mark’s Church Foundation. Just use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-3463204 and you will be directed to the site smile.amazon.com where you are automatically asked if you want to support St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation. We hope you say “yes” because then Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the St. Mark’s Foundation. Thank you for your support of the Foundation and its mission to carry God’s Word forward. Please contact a Foundation board member or email the Foundation at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Thank You from the Foundation Board of Trustees

1/31/2020

The St. Mark’s Foundation books for fiscal year 2019 have closed and the Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledges the gifts provided to the Foundation during the past year. Memorials, legacy gifts, donations, Thrivent Choice Dollars, Amazon Smile and employee matching gifts have all contributed to the Foundation’s success for year 2019 and beyond. Without your generosity our ability to successfully support the mission of St. Mark’s wouldn’t be possible.

The Board of Trustees has quarterly open to the public meetings to conduct business. For 2020 the meeting dates are: April 14, June 9, Sept. 8, Nov. 10. Don’t hesitate to attend a meeting if you have a grant requests, comments or questions for the board. Please review our website for more detailed information about the Foundation’s mission and activity.

We are looking forward to having another great year in 2020.

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