Endowments
Endowment funds provide long-term support for Eastern Mennonite School - ensuring our sustainability for future generations! Endowed funds that total more than $10,000 create earnings that annually support the endowment's intended purpose.
Growing Existing Endowments
Gifts are welcome at any time to support existing endowment funds (EMS has nearly 100!). To make a gift now, simply send your donation with a note for which fund you'd like to support to ATTN: Development, EMS, 801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Planned gifts can also be designated for existing endowments.
Creating a New Endowments
To explore starting a new endowment in honor of someone or for a specific purpose, contact us to learn more about the process. We would be happy to discuss your charitable giving goals to see how your planned gift might take the fund to a new level and multiply the gift over the long term.
Pictured right: (l-r) Abby Garber ’23, Nancy Bok ’23, Joelle Blosser ’22, and Anna Miller ’23 created a thank you banner to share appreciation with our donors!
Endowments for Scholarships & Financial Aid
The EMS Alumni Endowment Fund
combines general class endowments into one fund to support financial aid. This approach strengthens the earning potential for class endowments.
Lee Eshleman Memorial Fund
was established by the class of ’81, with Lee’s parents, to honor their classmate, an actor, artist, comedian and friend, who died in 2007. He is remembered as a person of wit, humor, sincerity, and passion. The fund provides financial aid to students with a passion for visual and performing arts. Learn more about theater at EMS.
The Multicultural Scholarship Fund was established in 2020 when Chuck Hostetter '71 provided a seed gift that EMS joined with an existing fund, established in the 1990s by a fellow classmate to support Laotian immigrant students. Together, these gifts combined with others to provide financial aid for students who have been underrepresented at our school historically and today. Read more.
The Learning Support Scholarship was established by Susan and Phil Guengerich to provide an ongoing scholarship for students with financial and learning support needs. Susan H. Guengerich served EMS from 1978 to 2014. She valued each student’s giftedness, and advocated for students who benefited from academic support and mentoring.
Building Up the Body supports students with financial need who attend [smaller] Mennonite congregations that do not provide tuition support.
Family Endowments offer scholarships or aid awarded through the spring application process for students from these communities: EMES, missionary families, international communities, single-parent households, Church of the Brethren, leadership potential, families with financial need, learning support services and more.
Program Endowments (academic or service areas)
Music Endowments: Jay Hartzler Music Endowment and EMHS Endowment for Music Department
Athletics and Physical Education Equipment Endowment
Science Endowments: Science Equipment and David K. Mumaw Science Endowment
Technology Endowments: New Technology & Computer Equipment Endowment and EMHS Endowed Media Center Fund
Faculty Endowments: Curriculum & Faculty Professional Development, Investing in our Faculty and Staff Endowment, and J Ernest Martin Endowment for curriculum and professional development
Social Studies Endowment in honor and recognition of long-time teacher, Mr. Jim Rush
Spiritual Renewal Endowment provides support for chapel planning and programming.
The Elmer Kennel and Edith Charles Anabaptist Endowed Fund was established in 2000 to stimulate an interest in Mennonite-Anabaptist history among young people. Read more.
Facilities and Grounds Endowments
EMES Gardening & Outdoor Learning Endowment encourages learning through hands-on activities of creation care and intrigue.
Deferred & Sustainable Maintenance is a new endowment established in 2023 to keep our buildings ready for learning.
Eastern Mennonite School’s Endowment funds generally fall into one of the following categories:
- Scholarship & Financial Aid Endowments support the School’s mission by making it possible for students with demonstrated financial need to attend EMS and by supporting the admissions of students who strengthen the School’s diversity.
- Program Endowments enhance designated academic or services areas of the School.
- Facility and Grounds Endowments provide funds for ongoing maintenance, repair and replacement of the School’s facilities and equipment.
- General Endowments provide funding which the Board of Directors can commit for use where needed most.
If you'd like to learn more about endowments or planned gifts, please contact our development staff.
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