In 1973, A.E.J. “Ted” Fulford partnered with the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) to develop a trust to promote, develop, and enrich sacred music in the Anglican Church of Canada. Since then, the A.E.J. Fulford Trust for Sacred Music has awarded more than $580,000 including $12,000 in the Diocese of Ontario since 2010. Nationally, grants have supported choir schools, bursaries for choir camps, choral scholarships, organ study, and more.
“The generosity which arose from Ted Fulford’s desire to foster musical education and training in Canada allows churches and other music programs to reduce or eliminate financial barriers for young people who are seeking musical training,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher, Executive Director, AFC. On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Fulford Trust, AFC is celebrating Ted’s generosity by encouraging Anglicans to name your passion and grow your legacy.
“Ted Fulford’s philanthropic spirit, and that of hundreds of other Canadian Anglicans, have formed the bedrock of AFC’s $15 million endowment,” says Brubacher. “These legacies have varied in size and do not come exclusively from wealthy philanthropists. The thread that unites them all, is a passion to make a difference.” AFC’s capacity to weather the pandemic, while also pushing its grants program to new heights in recent years is directly attributable to the “growing impact of enduring gifts.”
Whether motivated by their love for sacred music, belief in the value of leadership and education, a vision to reduce poverty, or a desire to support the Indigenous church, an increasing number of Canadian Anglicans are choosing to remember the church in their wills.
Brubacher says that among the many bequests it has received in recent decades, AFC is rarely the sole faith-related beneficiary. “Our experience has been that legacy gifts typically lift all boats by supporting the church at various levels—locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. It is especially heartening to see the benefit to the local church as well as to a donor’s family and charities. From hospitals to universities to animal shelters, Canadian Anglicans are putting a great deal of care, compassion, and consideration into how they put their wills to work.”
This year, AFC is joining the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund as well as dioceses across Canada to partner with Will Power, a national campaign of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) that educates Canadians about the power of leaving a charitable gift in their will.
In the Diocese of Ontario, for guidance on how to make your church part of your estate plans you can contact: The Ven. John Robertson at [email protected].
Stewardship Reflections with the Ven. Wayne Varley