Understanding The Horizon Fund

INCOME FROM THE NORTH LAND LEASE

Saint Michael family,

I hope this note finds you and your loved ones doing well. As you likely know, Lincoln Property Company (LPC) is leasing the land on the northeast portion of the Saint Michael and All Angels (SMAA) campus to build a mixed-use development. This is a part of the North Land Initiative partnership between SMAA and LPC, and construction is imminent.

As we enter this time of construction on and around our Saint Michael campus, there will be occasional changes to the way we access the campus and enter the building. We have already adjusted the main entrance for the Saint Michael Episcopal School, as well as the location of the Saint Michael’s Farmers Market, to the west side of the campus. We will be diligent in communicating changes as early as possible on our website, through our social media channels, and in the “Saint Michael Weekly” email newsletter, which you can sign up to receive on the bottom of the homepage of our website. For more specifics and current information on the development, please visit saintmichael.org/northland.

The North Land Initiative (fully funded by LPC) allows SMAA to be future-focused and offers a path to grow our ministry and mission. This initiative will activate and energize our property in new ways that enable us to engage more of our neighbors, while providing an increased investment in our mission to build Christian disciples for a transformed community.

The revenue collected by SMAA from the North Land Initiative will be distributed in ways that best benefit the church, parishioners, and the greater community. Each year, 15% of the total income received will be earmarked toward general church operation costs. The remaining 85% of the income will be invested in the Horizon Fund, held by the Saint Michael Foundation (SMF) with guidance from a professional advisory firm. The Horizon Fund committees are comprised of Vestry and Foundation members, who will administer and manage the annual distribution of up to 4% of the Fund's value to support outreach and capital needs.

More than half of the Horizon Fund distributions (a minimum of 60%) will be allocated for church outreach to help further SMAA’s mission of helping the community at large. Put another way, at least 51% of the income received goes into the Horizon Fund earmarked for outreach, increasing Saint Michael’s outreach impact in the community every year. The Horizon Fund will support the community through grants that are vetted by the Horizon Fund committee. Grants will be given for initiatives such as helping to find affordable housing, decreasing food insecurity among vulnerable DISD families and providing broadband internet for educational usage among those in need—to name a few potential efforts. Upon review and recommendation by the Horizon Fund committee, community requests will go through the full Vestry for final approval.

The remainder of the Horizon Fund distributions (a maximum of 40%) will support long-term capital needs of the church. Capital Funds will be used to assist non-routine church expenditures and needs as they arise. These circumstances could include replacing a boiler, water main line, gas line, roof, chillers, air handler and similar capital needs that the church might have. Needs will be coordinated between the Horizon Fund committee and operations team, then go through the full Vestry for final approval.

We are grateful for the many blessings that will come from the proceeds of the North Land Initiative. For 75 years, Saint Michael has been an embracing and engaging community of faith, living our baptismal covenant across Dallas and the entire North Texas region. These funds will help us build a strong future for the next 75 years, positively impacting our community. With the Horizon Fund, we are well positioned to look to the future, build on the legacy of those parishioners who came before us and ensure generations after us continue to extend God’s love.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata

Rector