ECF Expands Its Leading Role at the Episcopal Parish Network Conference
Anne Richardson, Endowment Management Managing Director, Yvonne Lembo, Senior Director of Stewardship, Foundation and Institutional Giving, and Susan McDowell, Endowment Management Managing Director, at the EPN Conference.
Dail St. Claire, President and CEO of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF), was a featured speaker at the March 3-6, 2026, Episcopal Parish Network (EPN) Conference in Charlotte, NC, which set a record with an attendance of over 800 registrants. Dail St. Claire highlighted ECF’s new pilot Lay Leader Development track in the Foundation’s longstanding Fellowship Partners Program, which has supported emerging Episcopal leaders in theological study and ministry leadership for more than sixty years.Dail St. Claire’s presentation was part of EPN’s two-day, Lay Church Staff pre-conference, which debuted this year as one of the most popular among seven church leadership gatherings offered at the conference. Yvonne Lembo, Senior Director of Stewardship, Foundations and Institutional Giving, served with a team of facilitators for the pre-conference. Designed as “a dynamic space for reflection, professional growth, these gatherings shared learnings among lay church staff members seeking to deepen their sense of vocation, strengthen their leadership, and build connections with peers across the Church.” (2026 Pre-Conferences – Episcopal Parish Network)The Foundation’s leading role at the Lay Church Staff pre-conference was rooted in the consistent, faithful leadership of ECF’s Endowment Management Team, which has provided expertise in endowment management at EPN for over 25 years. This year, the ECF Endowment Management Managing Directors participated in the Episcopal Parish Network’s Endowment Smart Start, a new program designed to kick off the conference by providing clergy and lay leaders with a practical introduction to endowments. The program enabled participants to learn from experts, ask questions, and engage in small-group discussions about how endowments can support long-term ministry.ECF Endowment Management Managing Directors Susan McDowell and Anne Richardson provided an overview of key endowment concepts and principles, sharing practical ideas for establishing, funding, and growing an endowment.Participants continued their discussions over lunch, addressing topics such as endowment governance, spending policies, and effective communication about finances. The session was highly interactive, and attendees left with practical guidance and next steps for advancing their church’s endowment journey.If you need a refresher on endowments or want to start the process in your own congregation, we invite you to contact our team at [email protected].Established in 1949 as an independent, lay-led organization, the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) helps build, vitalize, and transform Episcopal faith communities, focusing on finance, formation, and resources.
