The Montreat Fund

Our Top Annual Giving Priority

The Montreat Fund sustains the mission and ministry of the conference center through collective, unrestricted, annual support. Generous gifts ensure that Montreat remains a place to grow in faith, rest with family and friends, and connect with wilderness for many years to come. Donors to the Montreat Fund make the Montreat experience possible!

Gifts to the Montreat Fund represented 12% of the conference center's operating budget in the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year and have a direct bearing on our ability to:

Feature insightful speakers for conferences and talented preachers for worship
Maintain lodges and facilities and provide a safe and welcoming environment for guests
Offer recreational activities like boating, hiking, Clubs, crafts and pottery, and barn dances

The conference center relies on widespread support from individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations to reach our Montreat Fund goal each year. See below for our different giving recognition levels and the benefits of being a Montreat Fund Patron!

Montreat's fiscal year runs from May 1 through April 30.

Partner with us and make your gift today!

For information on how to mail a check, make a securities transfer, give through your IRA, and more visit our Ways to Give page. Check the FAQ below for information like Montreat's Tax ID, the Church Patrons program, and the benefits of being a Patron.

To view Montreat's Annual Report for the 2023 calendar year, visit montreat.org/annual-report.

Click above to view a copy of the Donor Listing from 2024–2025

Make a Gift Online Today

If you have questions about the Montreat Fund, contact:

Julie Lehman
Director of the Montreat Fund and Major Gifts
828.419.9806 | Email

What is Montreat's EIN?

Montreat's Tax ID is 56-0532142.

Who do I make my gift to? Montreat Conference Center? Mountain Retreat Association? Something else?

Checks can be made out to either "Montreat Conference Center" or "Mountain Retreat Association" and the reference line should include "Montreat Fund" or another fund to which you want to designate your gift. Gifts should NOT be directed to the Montreat Conference Center Development Foundation. We cannot accept gifts made out to the MCC Development Foundation.

How do I make a stock gift or securities transfer?

Download the instructions here or give the following information to your broker.

Account name: Mountain Retreat Association
Address: PO Box 969 Montreat, NC 29757
Brokerage firm: First Citizens Investor Services
DTC Number: 0443
Account Number: TNQ-067455

Where do the funds go?

In the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year, revenue from programs, hospitality, and retail covered 80% of Montreat's annual operating budget. Gifts to the Montreat Fund and unrestricted endowment distributions filled in the gap, contributing 15% and 4% to the operating budget respectively.

The operating budget covers everything from gravel in the campground to staff salaries to bringing prominent speakers for conferences. In other words, without the Montreat Fund, the Montreat experience wouldn't be possible!

Who should make a gift to the Montreat Fund?

Everyone! The Montreat Fund offers a tax-deductible* opportunity for everyone in our community to support the mission and ministries of the conference center. Widespread support from cottagers, conference participants, churches, foundations, businesses, guests, and friends is crucial to reaching our Montreat Fund goal each year. Gifts of all sizes are welcome and appreciated.
*to the extent allowed by law

What is the difference between dollars raised for the Montreat Fund, endowment, and capital?

All giving to Montreat is greatly valued and offers important support to various areas of the conference center. The Montreat Fund is our top philanthropic priority because it offers significant, unrestricted operating support to Montreat Conference Center on a yearly basis. Our endowment provides long-term financial stability by supporting ongoing physical maintenance as well as enhancements to programs. Additionally, some endowment funds provide need-based scholarships for individuals and groups to attend and participate in conferences. Capital gifts are typically larger investments in facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. Contact our office at development@montreat.org if you're interested in an endowment or capital gift!

What is a Patron?

A Patron is an individual, couple, household, business, church, or organization that makes a gift of $500 or more (or $100 or more if you are 35 and under) to the Montreat Fund within Montreat's May 1-April 30 fiscal year. Everyone who gives at the patron level and above is considered a Patron for the year they make their gift and for events and recognition in the following fiscal year. A Gold Patron makes a $1,000 or more commitment to the Montreat Fund within a fiscal year, doubling their impact on Montreat's mission and ministry.

What are the benefits of being a Patron?

One of the greatest benefits of being a Montreat Fund Patron is being part of a community that has made financial commitments to sustaining Montreat Conference Center. For more tangible benefits, please see the bullets below.

Our community of almost 1,300 Patrons is invited to an annual Patrons Reception on the third Saturday of July, which has in recent years been held on Moore Center Field with food trucks, family-friendly activities, free beer and wine, and more.
Upon receipt of your gift, you will receive a Patrons sticker for your car, water bottle, etc.
If your birthday is on record, you will receive a specially designed Montreat birthday card in the mail.
Lastly, Patrons receive access to the Clubs and Childcare registration process before it is available to the public.

What is the Gateway Society?

The Gateway Society is a group of donors that have made a significant commitment to sustaining the Montreat Fund through gifts of $2,000 or more during the fiscal year. The Office of Development is incredibly grateful to the individuals and churches who have chosen to make Montreat a philanthropic priority in their lives.

What are the benefits of being a Patron and a Gateway Society Member?

Our community of almost 1,300 Patrons is invited to an annual Patrons Reception on the third Saturday of July, which has in recent years been held on Moore Center Field with food trucks, family-friendly activities, free beer and wine, and more.
Members of the Gateway Society receive an invitation to an additional semi-formal event on the last Saturday of the Montreat's summer.
Upon receipt of your gift, you will receive a Patrons sticker for your car, water bottle, etc.
If your birthday is on record you will receive a specially designed Montreat birthday card in the mail.
Lastly, Gateway Society members receive access to the Clubs and Childcare registration process before it is available to the public and before it is available to Patrons.

We established levels to recognize and honor donors whose generous annual gifts to the Montreat Fund play a significant role in our ability to fund our many ministries.

Young Patron (age 35 or younger) - $100
Patron (Individual and Church) - $500
Gold Patron - $1,000
Gateway Society - $2,000+

Only you know what a meaningful gift is for you, your family, your church, or your business. Participation at any level helps ensure the success of the Montreat Fund and communicates your commitment to sustaining and strengthening Montreat for future generations.

Are there recognition levels above Gateway?

Yes! For the Montreat Fund, the Gateway Society is the highest-level giving society. However, in Montreat's annual Donor Listing, there are demarcated giving levels from $1-299, $300-599, $600-1,199, $1,200-2,499, $2,500-4,999, $5,000-9,999, 10,000-24,999, and $25,000+ that take all giving into account. For more information on Montreat's Firefly Society and Founder's Society (lifetime giving), visit montreat.org/donor-recognition.