Foundation for ACPE and the Proposed Merger with APC
As we are pondering the proposed merger some of us may ask: “What’s going to happen to our money?” to which some others who are new to ACPE or just very busy would respond: “What money?” Indeed, we have some money.
ACPE is supported by an auxiliary non-profit organization, the Foundation for ACPE, which serves two main purposes: first, to generate funding to promote our mission and innovation, and second, to safeguard ACPE assets and manage the endowment, caring for the future of ACPE.
Most members hear from the Foundation through our “pitch” for your support, our annual fundraising campaign. You also hear from us when we invite you to apply for a grant for an innovative program you are developing. In addition, the Foundation has received grants to support the work of ACPE. The Board which consists of ACPE Educators, Psychotherapists and volunteers who know much more about money than most of us do, also oversees the investments of donations entrusted to us. A large part of the donations have been invested in endowment(s) that will exist into the future and generate interest to fund new programming.
Some of the funds that are overseen by the Foundation have been dedicated for specific purposes. For example, the Glaz-Plummer Fund supports our educational programming at annual conferences. This year, the Glaz-Plummer Fund supported the plenary given by Emilie Townes entitled “Premeditated Indifference: Facing (In)Justice with the Power of Hope.” Since our psychotherapist colleagues joined ACPE, they are represented on our Board; they oversee the Mission Advancement Program (MAP) Fund which is dedicated to the work of expanding innovation in spiritually-integrated psychotherapy. As separate endowed funds, the Glaz-Plummer and MAP funds will exist for the purposes originally designated after the merger. Additionally, any separate endowed funds held by APC would also continue after the merger.
While the envisioned new organization still must develop its bylaws, the Foundation for ACPE will continue to exist as a separate Type I non-profit organization, an auxiliary to the new organization.
The funds that have been donated will continue to exist as separate funds supporting the work for which they were intended. ACPE members will be able to direct their donations to the purpose that is dear to their heart, be it Education or Psychotherapy, for example.
From a financial perspective, the benefits of the merger are possible cost savings when we combine operations and greater income through larger investments. It would resemble a marriage where two people combine their assets while keeping some separate individual savings accounts for their personal hobbies and projects.
If you have more questions, please join our ACPE Townhall meetings or email us at foundation@acpe.edu.
Dagmar Grefe is the Chair of the Foundation for ACPE and can be reached at dgrefe@chla.usc.edu