We help individuals, churches, and agencies grow and sustain the ministries that are central to our Moravian faith.
Our Mission
Our Values
Trust: honesty, integrity, and transparency in everything we do.
Christian Service: commitment to practices that share God’s love with others.
Impact: dedication to delivering meaningful results.
Stewardship: developing, managing, and sharing gifts of time, talent, treasure and testimony.
Partnership: leveraging talents and building relationships while connecting tools and resources.
Your Impact
Your Foundation has assisted Moravians with estate planning and facilitated more than $40,000,000 in planned and outright gifts through our gift planning assistance program. The investment management service, the Moravian Common Fund, helps various Moravian churches and agencies invest over $160,000,000 in permanent and endowment funds as of December 31, 2017. Forty-eight Moravian congregations and agencies have used the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America’s Stewardship Development services.
Your Foundation's History
Before 1997 the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in North America operated two independent planned giving programs. The Reverend Gene Glasser led the Northern Province’s effort and Dick Gillett led the Southern Province’s program.
In 1998 the Synods of the Northern and Southern Provinces authorized the formation of the Moravian Ministries Foundation, which replaced the two planned giving programs. The decision to create the Foundation was rooted in the beliefs that it would result in:
- A wiser use of both Provinces’ resources, and
- A more effective voice to speak to Moravians about planned giving and other services that would foster personal and institutional (churches and ministries) stewardship.
Administrative Staff
Chris Spaugh, President
Chris joined the Moravian Ministries Foundation on June 1, 2017. A lifelong resident of North Carolina, Chris spent 22 years in increasing positions of responsibility at Wells Fargo Bank NA, and its predecessor, Wachovia Bank. He is a passionate leader of relationship-driven philanthropy in the areas of charitable giving and financial solutions. Chris has vast experience with visionary leadership, staff management, nonprofit governance, financial management/oversight, client service, partnership-building and strategic planning.
When Chris is away from the office he enjoys spending time with his wife Kelli and their four children on their small, family farm. Chris also volunteers his time with his church and Boy Scouts of America in multiple areas.
Laura Watson, Director of Stewardship and Development Services
Laura joined the Foundation in April of 2012. A native of Winston-Salem and member of Home Moravian Church, she has worked in the Florida school system, at Salem College, and as Assistant Director of Laurel Ridge, the Southern Province’s camp and conference center.
When she’s not busy with stewardship and capital campaign consulting for the Foundation, Laura enjoys running and fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), as well as traveling with her husband, Mark. She has served on the Salem Academy and College Board of Trustees and the Salem Academy Alumnae Board and currently serves on the Triad JDRF Board of Directors.
Kara Yates, Director of Operations
Kara joined the Foundation in June of 2016. A graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Business, Kara spent 5 years in Donor Relations with University Advancement at Wake before joining the Moravian Ministries Foundation.
Kara oversees all aspects of our internal business and financial operations, as well as being the relationship manager for Common Fund investors. She enjoys getting to know Moravians and their stories and making sure their business and philanthropic needs are being met.
When not at the foundation, Kara enjoys cooking, vegetable gardening, and spending time with her husband, Matt, and their two children Hayden and Madelyn.
Vince Holbrook, Director of Communication and Marketing
Vince Holbrook became Director of Communication and Marketing in November 2017. He’s a career communications, marketing, and project management professional who spent significant time with Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Texas Instruments. Vince holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Morehead State University, Morehead, KY as well as a Master of Arts degree in Applied Communication from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Vince attends First Moravian Church in Greensboro, NC and is also a regular at Come & Worship. He teaches part-time at Forsyth Technical Community College and at Guilford Technical Community College as an adjunct instructor for public speaking and interpersonal communication. He enjoys time with his wife, Susan, and two adult sons.
Board of Trustees - 2018-2019
Trustees
Paul Armfield, Treasurer
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Church: Calvary
Charles “Sandy” Baldwin, III, Chair 2019
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Church: Home
Keith Gohdes
Davenport, North Dakota
Church: Canaan
Julie Guffey
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Church: Olivet
Paula Hall
King, North Carolina
Church: King
Mélida Hodgson, Esq., Secretary
New York, New York
Church: Faith
Larry Johnson
Staten Island, New York
Church: Castleton Hill
Craig Laughlin
Dover, Ohio
Church: First
Keith Kapp, Esq.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Church: Raleigh
The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Miller
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
PEC President, Northern Province
Cheryl Weber, Vice Chair 2019
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Church: West Side
Staff
Christopher W. Spaugh, President
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Investment & Finance Committee 2019
Paul Armfield, Chair
MMFA Board
Larry Johnson
MMFA Board
Keith Gohdes
MMFA Board
Robyn Glance & Brenda Cahill
Ex-Officio Members
Governance Committee 2019
Julie Guffey
MMFA Board
Paula Hall
MMFA Board
Keith Kapp, Esq.
MMFA Board
The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Miller
MMFA Board
Executive Committee 2019
Charles “Sandy” Baldwin, III, Chair
MMFA Board
Craig Laughlin
MMFA Board Advisory Member
Mélida Hodgson, Esq.
MMFA Board
Cheryl Weber
MMFA Board