Markus Dickinson Jubilee Endowment

I'm Cooper Sykes, a member of First UMC Bloomington and an alumnus of Indiana University and Jubilee. We hope that this email finds you well and that you’re enjoying the blossoms of springtime! We are writing to you because you have at some point in the past decade been connected to Jubilee, FUMCB, Markus Dickinson, or some combination of all three. We have an exciting announcement to make involving all three of those wonderful things! FUMCB and Jubilee are proud to announce the launch of the Markus Dickinson Jubilee Endowment, a fund that will help honor the incredible legacy of Markus and build a firm financial foundation for Jubilee for years to come!

Jubilee has been leading a multitude of meaningful and joyous activities in the past 15 years, especially in the past 8 years under Markus’ direction. From creating a space of belonging (and free food!) for 30-50 college students and young adults every Wednesday to hosting four Local Outreach Service Retreats in Bloomington, Jubilee has been making an impact on the lives of both its members and the broader community. For students and young adults searching for an understanding and accepting spiritual home, Jubilee (a Reconciling Ministry since 2021) has served as a safe space in the lives of countless individuals.

To launch the fund, we are in search of supporters and donors to help us get the endowment off the ground. It takes around $64,000 annually to run Jubilee, from general Jubilee activity support to salaries for interns, the assistant director, and the director. This endowment fund, which will generate 5% interest annually to invest in this ministry, will be invaluable to helping the important work of Jubilee’s Wednesday gatherings, small groups, and service opportunities with local organizations like Beacon continue to better the lives of those in the Indiana University, FUMCB, and Bloomington communities.

We completely understand that giving ability varies among our congregation, and support might look different given each church member's financial situation. In recognition of this, we want to stress three things:

1) Any amount donated, even $5, is a meaningful gift to the Jubilee community and will be just as valued in God’s eyes as any larger gift. Just knowing that there is still love for Jubilee in your heart is a gift in and of itself! To give online or make a recurring gift, please click here, or use our Venmo @fumcb.

2) If you are not able to donate at this time but still want to support the endowment, sharing the news about this endowment, especially with those who might have more means to financially offer their support (family members, loved ones, friends, etc.), is a fantastic way to help ensure this endowment is a successful endeavor!

3) Please see this attached document for more details. If you would like to discuss your gift, make an intention for the future, or make a planned estate gift, please contact our Endowment Chair, E.G. White.

We are so grateful for your time spent reading this e-mail and for all the love that you’ve shared with our FUMCB and Jubilee community throughout the years! The Markus Dickinson Jubilee Endowment is only possible through the care that you have put into FUMCB and its ministries, and we hope that you will consider supporting us in ensuring that Jubilee can continue to provide joy to more phenomenal humans for many years to come.

Blessings,

Cooper Sykes, on behalf of

First United Methodist Church of Bloomington & Jubilee