Frequently Asked Questions 
At United Church Funds (UCF), we field questions from investors and prospective clients every day. Below, we've answered those we hear most frequently — but if you have a question we haven't addressed, click here to email your question, or call us toll-free at 877-806-4989.
To view answers for an entire section please click on the section title or you can click on an individual question to view its answer.
OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT
What is the minimum deposit for opening a new account?
| United Church Funds can open a new account with as little as $1,000. So even if your church doesn't have a large endowment, you can create a fund that will be ready for bequests and other gifts. |
How do we open a new account?
| Churches and organizations affiliated with the United Church of Christ are welcome to open accounts with United Church Funds — and the process is pretty straightforward. Just click here to download the new account form and instruction booklet (1.1MB).
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ADDING & TRANSFERRING FUNDS
How can we add funds to our account?
Adding funds is as simple as sending a check with a letter of instruction identifying your UCF account number and the fund(s) in which you want the new money invested. If a church member has given the church a check, you may endorse that check by indicating "Pay to the order of United Church Funds" on the back.
You may also send funds by wire transfer — we'll simply need a letter by fax, email or regular mail notifying us of the amount we should expect, the fund(s) to which you want the wired funds credited, and of course your church name and UCF account number. For additional wire transfer instructions, call us at 877-806-4989. |
A donor at our church wants to transfer stock to our UCF account. How do we do that?
| When received by United Church Funds, gifts of stock are immediately sold and the proceeds deposited to the church's UCF account, in the fund of your choice. Stocks may not be transferred for liquidation and immediate withdrawal. For more information about stock gifts and transfers, email us at info@unitedchurchfunds.org. |
How do we transfer money between UCF funds?
| Transfers require only a written request (fax, email or regular mail) with your church's name and address, your UCF account number, and your transfer instructions. We'll send notification back to you by the same method used for your request. |
WITHDRAWING FUNDS
How do we withdraw from our account?
| Withdrawals are easy: we accept faxed, emailed and regular letters giving us instructions for the withdrawal, then we automatically deposit the funds into the checking account the church designated when the account was opened. For more information, go to our Add-Withdraw-Transfer page or give us a call at 877-806-4989. |
Can you send us a check?
| For the last five years, UCF has relied on EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer through the US banking system's Automated Clearing House) to process disbursements to our investors. This system offers greater speed and security than paper checks, because the funds are deposited directly into the church's previously identified checking or savings account. You receive your funds within 24-48 hours of processing your request (excluding weekends and holidays). |
What is the total turnaround time on withdrawals?
| Requests received by noon on a regular business day are processed on the next business day, with funds credited to your bank account within 24-48 hours, making the total turnaround time 48-72 hours. You will know your request has been processed when you receive notification by the method you used to submit your request. |
Do you charge fees for withdrawals?
| No! UCF charges no fees for new investments, withdrawals or transfers. The sole exception: if you request a wire transfer, we do pass along the $25 fee charged by our bank. Wire transfers may be required when churches need funds within a matter of hours. |
Can we request a withdrawal from the online account system?
| No, withdrawal requests require a letter of instruction — but you can send that letter by email, fax or regular mail. |
How do we change our reinvestment to receive income?
| A written request is all we need to either begin reinvesting your account's quarterly income, or to begin sending quarterly income disbursements to your church. Be sure to include the name and address of your church, your UCF account number, and your instructions. We'll send notification back to you by the same method used for your request. |
YOUR ACCOUNT & ONLINE ACCESS
Our Treasurer/authorized signer has changed. How do we change the signatories?
| UCF does not maintain signature files. |
Our statement address has changed — how do we notify you?
| Please send a written notice by fax, email or regular mail with the old and new information, along with your UCF account number(s). |
How can I get a current or past statement of our account?
| To obtain statements that are not available online, call us toll-free at 877-806-4989 or send an email to info@unitedchurchfunds.org. |
Do you have an online system for viewing my account activity?
| Yes. Our online system permits you to view your account and print reports, although you may not make account transactions online. For login information, call us toll-free at 877-806-4989 or send an email to info@unitedchurchfunds.org. |
ABOUT UCF INVESTMENTS
How can I find out what stocks UCF holds in its portfolio?
| Because our managers are constantly monitoring and adjusting for shifts in the market, we do not maintain a frequently updated list of holdings. We do, however, publish an annual Schedule of Investments as of December 31 each year, which you may download by clicking here. |
Can individuals invest with United Church Funds?
| No, at this time only UCC-affiliated churches and organizations may invest with UCF. |
Where can I get information about performance?
| UCF provides quarterly statements of perfomance in UCFocus, our quarterly newsletter that goes to each investor. But you may also access performance information on this website (click here to go to the performance page), and you may also examine the performance over time of each separate fund by reviewing the Investment Funds pages on this site. |
What is Due Diligence?
| Every fund manager bears a responsibility to thoroughly review the investments that go into their clients' portfolios. In this investigative process, known as “due diligence,” the manager seeks to discover material information about securities under consideration either for purchase or sale. United Church Funds investors conduct their own due diligence when they request information about the securities held in UCF's portfolios: how and where they are held, how much was spent to buy or sell them, how they are valued on an ongoing basis, if they are loaned or encumbered, and so on.
These questions and many others are usually answered in detail in the annual report, audited financial statements and related documents of an organization. The signed auditor’s letter assures that the financial statements provide an accurate picture of the organization's actual assets, liabilities, fund balances, and cash flows. A schedule of investments will identify the actual securities held as of a certain date by name, stating both purchase cost and market value. Performance statements allow comparison of actual returns with the average return of relevant benchmark indexes over differing periods of time.
Careful due diligence helps to steer responsible investors away from the fraudulent investments and Ponzi schemes that have recently made headlines. United Church Funds are managed in a wholly transparent manner, entrusting hard assets held to a bonded custodian bank for safe-keeping and annually publishing a detailed schedule of investments and audited financial statements. Our experienced staff, Investment Committee and Board of Directors continually engage in the due diligence needed to insure the integrity and professionalism of our operations. |
What is the difference between market value and book value?
| Book value represents your initial investment, any additions to or withdrawals from the account, along with reinvested income (if applicable). The market value repesents your account's actual value on any given day, based on the movements of the stock and bond markets. |
Are UCF investments federally guaranteed?
| UCF works much like a mutual fund — and like mutual funds or any other investment in the stock and bond markets, we do not enjoy federal protection. Only FDIC-insured banks offer guarantees, and then only on checking/savings accounts and certificates of deposit up to federal limits. |
Do you have a Certificate of Deposit investment?
| UCF offers a Cash & Equivalent Fund, which functions much like a money market account. If your church is interested in a longer-term, fixed-rate type of instrument, we recommend you consider the UCC Cornerstone Fund, which offers CD-type instruments from six months to five years. |
ABOUT UNITED CHURCH FUNDS
Why should we invest with UCF rather than with a commercial investment manager?
United Church Funds is dedicated to serving the churches and ministries of the United Church of Christ, and is honored to be entrusted with the management of the denomination's historic endowments. We believe we offer UCC ministries several distinct advantages —
• a family of nine funds to meet the range of investment interests
• competitive fees lower than most commercial managers, with no transaction fees
• socially responsible management in keeping with UCC values and objectives
• a not-for-profit structure that keeps costs low
• competitive performance from highly skilled professional managers
In addition, UCF offers trust services to assist churches and donors in the management of endowments and other significant gifts. |
How do you keep your fees low?
| Unlike commercial brokers and investment managers, UCF operates as a not-for-profit organization — managing our funds solely for the benefit of our investors rather than for corporate stockholders. We pay no dividends, offer no fat bonuses, and benefit from a volunteer board of directors — highly experienced professionals who seek no compensation for the time they dedicate to their service to UCF (we do reimburse expenses incurred when members travel to board meetings). Each year, we examine our fee structure in light of market conditions, and have actually lowered fees in some years. |
Can someone come meet with our church to discuss an investment with UCF?
| Our representatives meet with churches practically every week, and we'd be pleased to discuss a visit to address your particular questions. Just give us a call at 877-806-4989 for more information. |
How do I sign up for the UCFocus newsletter?
| If you would like to receive our quarterly newsletter, just click here to send us your email address (for a PDF version) or your postal address (for the printed version). To see the most recent editions, just click here. |
Allan Lynk Church Trustee First Congregational UCC Wadena MN
Our church is not rich, but we are not poor either, and certainly not poor in spirit. We have always helped friends and neighbors struggling to get by – and now we can do so much more thanks to the legacy from the Lamson family, which is so characteristic of their faithfulness and generosity.
