About Moravian Ministries Foundation of America
OUR VISION: We envision thriving Moravian ministries that glorify God.
OUR MISSION: We help individuals, churches, and agencies grow and sustain the ministries that are central to our Moravian faith.
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.
History of MMFA
Before 1997, the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in North America operated two independent planned giving programs. The Rev. 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.
Our Strategic Focus through 2026
- Promoting our identity to strengthen our base
- Providing programs to enhance Moravian ministries
- Equipping constituents to invest in and with MMFA
Your Impact
As of December 31, 2023, Moravians have $195,253,617 under investment through MMFA. These assets represent your collective endowments, trusts, scholarship funds, donor-advised funds, gift annuities, pensions, and various other investment accounts — all invested for the glory and advancement of the kingdom of our Chief Elder, Jesus Christ.
MMFA oversaw $13,163,112 in distributions for 2023. Together, investors deposited more than $12,344,409 million of additional funds into the Moravian Common Fund in 2023.
Thanks to your contributions, MMFA distributed 45 Grants, totaling $392,325, to 39 recipients in 2023. Most of this grant money was donated during the 2023 Moravian Day of Giving.
click here to view our impact statement
MMFA Adminstrative 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
Vice President/ Director of Programs
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 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, the Salem Academy Alumnae Board, and the Triad JDRF Board of Directors.
Valerie Davis Kiger, CPA, Director of Finance
Valerie joined our team in January 2022. She’s responsible for MMFA’s financial and operational effectiveness, leading strategic and work planning processes, and directly managing finance, administration, investments, and information technology.
Valerie has more than 20 years’ experience in audit, tax, and financial management within the contexts of manufacturing, non-profit, government, construction, and healthcare. She was most recently an Audit Partner with Cannon & Company, LLP. She also previously served as the Controller for Davie Construction Co. and Tax Manager at Bernard Robinson & Co., LLP.
Valerie holds a Master of Science degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Catawba College. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, and two daughters, Emma and Noelle.
Libby Davis Administrative Accountant
North Carolina native Libby Pike Davis joined the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America in August 2020 as Administrative Accountant. She’s a lifelong, ninth-generation Moravian from the oldest congregation in the Southern Province, Bethabara Moravian Church. She has been Treasurer for Bethabara since June 2010. When she is not working for the Foundation or her congregation, Libby is also Senior Tax Analyst at H & R Block in Clemmons, NC.Libby studied accounting at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem. She has a son, Ryan, who lives in Gastonia, NC with his wife, Jaime and six children; a daughter, Sara, who lives in Durham, NC with her husband, Ashton. Libby and her husband, Chip live in Winston-Salem, NC and enjoy spending time with family and working in their vegetable garden.
Hanna Jackson
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Hanna Jackson joined MMFA in September 2023, bringing with her a wealth of experience within the Moravian Church community. Prior to her role at MMFA, Hanna served as the Communications and Special Projects Manager for the Board of Cooperative Ministries in the Southern Province from 2017 to 2021. Additionally, Hanna is an enthusiastic and active member of Calvary Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, a place of worship that has been a cherished part of her family’s tradition for many generations.
Hanna is an alumna of Appalachian State University and boasts over a decade of successful experience in the fields of communication and marketing. Her most recent position was as the Marketing and Communications Specialist at Commercial Realty Advisors, a prominent commercial real estate and development company based in Winston-Salem.
Outside of her professional life, Hanna is a devoted mother to her two young children, Ford and Norah, alongside her husband, David. She dedicates her time to serving on various boards at Calvary Moravian Church and her children’s preschool, Messiah Moravian. In those rare moments of free time, Hanna indulges her passions for baking, crafting, and taking on DIY projects around her home.
2023 Board of Trustees
TRUSTEES
Brenda Genemans
Thurmont, MD
Congregation: Graceham
Keith Gohdes
Davenport, ND
Congregation: Canaan
(PEC Northern Province)
Larry Johnson, Treasurer
Staten Island, NY
Congregation: Castleton Hill
Lou Jackson
Clemmons, NC
Congregation: New Philadelphia
Keith Kapp, Esq.
Raleigh, NC
Congregation: Raleigh
(PEC Southern Province)
William W. Matz, Jr., Esq.,
Vice Chair
Bethlehem, PA
Congregation: East Hills
Justin Peart
Parkland, FL
Congregation: Prince of Peace
Gail Theard, Secretary
Mt. Airy, NC
Congregation: Grace
The Rev. Virginia Tobiassen
Winston-Salem, NC
Congregation: Home
Bruce Shoger
Lake Auburn, MN
Congregation: Lake Auburn
Brent Waddell, Chair
Lexington, NC
Congregation: Friedberg
STAFF
Christopher W. Spaugh
President
Winston-Salem, NC
Investment & Finance Committee
Larry Johnson
MMFA Board
Brenda Genemans
MMFA Board
Cindy Miller
MMFA Board
Bruce Shoger
MMFA Board
Robyn Glance &
Brenda Cahill
Ex-Officio Members
Governance Committee
William W. Matz, Jr., Esq.
MMFA Board
The Rev. Virginia Tobiassen
MMFA Board
Keith Kapp, Esq.
MMFA Board
Keith Gohdes
MMFA Board
Justin Peart
MMFA Board
Lou Jackson
MMFA Board
Executive Committee
Brent Waddell
Chair
William W. Matz, Jr., Esq.
Vice Chair
Gail Theard
Secretary
Larry Johnson
Treasurer
Grant Advisory Committee
Caroline Averitt
Jane Gehler
Bill Matz
John Mickey
Zach Routh
Chris Spaugh
Pam Streich
David Whittle
