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The Episcopal Church Foundation in West Texas is a Texas non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors that includes the Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, D.D., Bishop of West Texas, and individuals appointed by the Bishop, and ratified each year during Council. At the helm of the Foundation is Executive Director, Dan Butt who has been leading the organization since 1999.
The Foundation was created in 1997 to:
▪ Invest and manage funds of the Diocese
▪ Be an investment resource to churches and institutions of the Diocese
▪ Encourage and promote legacy stewardship within the Diocese
In his recent Council report, Butt reflected on the history of the Foundation, sharing that the first three years of operation coincided with a difficult time in the investment markets, resulting in investment losses during the first three years of operation of the investment program. Since that time, the performance has been overwhelmingly positive. The expertise provided by Butt and the Board has resulted in gains in 19 of the 26 years of managing church and diocesan funds. The guidance provided by the Foundation has been instrumental in helping churches grow their investments and secure financial solidity.
When speaking about his time leading the Foundation, Butt commented, “I have been blessed to play a part in developing the vision Bishop Folts had when the Foundation was created.”
At the close of 2025, the Foundation’s portfolio included active management of over $108 Million in 219 church and school accounts and $57 Million for the Diocese and accounts of the Foundation held for the benefit of churches and schools, including three charitable remainder trusts. In the first quarter of 2026, four additional churches have engaged with the Foundation to manage their investments. Unlike other investment firms, there is no fee payable to the Foundation for churches to invest.
The composite investment returns achieved by the Foundation reflect a strong performance, consistently exceeding the returns achieved by other investment managers in long term gains.
In recent years, exceptional gains have been realized.
Churches investing with the Foundation are provided individual guidance that helps them achieve their financial goals and peace of mind. From helping churches invest their financial assets to establishing trusts that help ensure future financial stability, the Foundation takes a personalized approach to creating investment strategies that align with each church’s financial goals. During Council 2026, two rectors shared the positive impact that has resulted from their relationship with the Foundation.
Grace Church in San Antonio recently enlisted the Foundation’s assistance for investing funds from a property sale. The Rev. Tim Swan, Rector at Grace, stated, “We are not all blessed with experience and education in every aspect of handling church business. So, thanks be to God that within our diocese, we have access to people who are fully equipped to help us navigate the financial arena. We are thankful for the work that our Trustees and the Foundation have done for us and appreciate the ways in which have been and will be positioned to continue our efforts to love God and love our neighbors.”
The Rev. Gerald Phelps, Rector at St. Andrew’s in Corpus Christi shared how the Foundation helped ensure the financial stability of the church and affordability of a priest for now and into the future through a legacy fund. This strategy has resulted in significant growth of their investments and funds to pay the salary of the priest, as well as cover emergencies, such as the recent repair of an air conditioner. Rev. Phelps encouraged other churches to consider investing with the Foundation stating, “St. Andrew’s is free of debt, and it feels great! We are freed of the burden of this world’s happenstances. I firmly believe that every church, no matter the size, should have a fund. Start small and watch it grow– all of this advice and guidance and management of funds comes as a true blessing.”
To learn more about The Episcopal Church Foundation in West Texas, visit https://foundation-dwtx.org
Click here to watch the recent Council presentations surrounding the Foundation’s work with diocesan churches.
