As Maya Angelou teaches us, “… when you know better, do better.”
The purpose of the Restorative Fund for Indigenous Individuals and Communities is to receive, invest, and hold for transfer all funds donated through Restorative Action, an initiative endorsed by (but not controlled or limited by) the Presbyterian Church (USA). The sole purpose of the fund is to increase opportunities to flourish for Indigenous individuals and communities.
The purpose of the Restorative Fund for Afro-American Communities is to receive, invest, and hold for transfer all funds donated through Restorative Action, an initiative endorsed by (but not controlled or limited by) the Presbyterian Church (USA). The sole purpose of this fund is to resume the work left undone at Emancipation to increase opportunities to flourish for the heirs of the Afro-Americans whose ability to accumulate generational wealth was severely restricted through the denial of equal protection under the law.
You can do either or both; it is what you are led to do by your own sense of fairness.
Four trusts will be established and will be composed of Afro-American and Indigenous people, respectively. The trustees will have sole authority for directing the distribution of funds within the stated purposes of the initiative.
There are a number of creative ways to contribute when you don’t have immediate access to contributing from your wealth:
- You might consider contributing a portion of your income each year. On average, approximately 5% of the income earned by white households is attributable to favorable hiring and wage advantages in America today.
- You could consider contributing a portion of rental income or income that might arise from the sale of property.
- In most cases, required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can be donated without being counted as personal income for taxes.
- You could consider designating either or both Restorative trusts as beneficiary of a portion of dollars you hold in an IRA or a portion of future life insurance proceeds.
- Estate Planning – inheritance is a significant way wealth is passed down through generations and reserved
Do you have another creative idea, share it with us!
Yes, you can contribute to either fund or both funds.
Everyone is encouraged to participate. Although Restorative Actions was initiated by individuals affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), anyone is invited to contribute. There will be no denominational, religious affiliation or doctrinal considerations limiting the distribution of the program’s funds or earnings. We invite you.
Generally, no. The trustees will be Afro-American and Indigenous people. In staying with the spirit of surrendering the wealth, the donors (individuals, congregations, mid-councils, and other organizations) will specify only that the funds be used for the broad purpose of increasing opportunities to flourish for Afro-American and Indigenous communities. Donors will not have influence over the policies, selection criteria, or other procedures. If it so happens that the member of a contributing congregation also identifies as Afro-American or Indigenous and is called to participate, it will be as a member of their cultural community and not as a congregation member.
Not formally. This is one way that individuals, congregations, mid-councils and organizations might contribute to the work of dismantling systemic racism.
