The Board of Directors of Christian Camps of Pittsburgh, Inc.,
which operates “Summer’s Best Two Weeks,” (“Camp”) has determined that the mission of the Camp could greatly benefit from the establishment of a permanent endowment fund (“Fund”). The purpose of this statement is to explain the anticipated benefits of establishing such a permanent
Fund, and to make clear its intended use.

To best understand the decision to establish a permanent Fund, it is helpful to consider this effort in the context of the history of the Camp. The Camp was founded sixty years ago in 1966 as a nonprofit corporation. Unlike many nonprofit organizations, the Camp has successfully operated throughout its existence without a large permanent endowment fund, and without annual fundraising efforts.
Put simply, the Camp has, and continues, to operate as a solvent and financially sound nonprofit corporation, with its primary source of revenue coming from the tuition that it receives from campers. Through good financial stewardship joined with the service of many dedicated Christians, the Camp has always managed to achieve two important, and sometimes competing, purposes:
1. Maintain affordable tuition for Campers so that all who desire to attend may come.
2. Provide a Christian camping experience with the quality that the SB2W mission requires.

As stated, for the past sixty years, through God’s grace and provision, the Camp has been able to meet both objectives without a significant endowment fund, and without the need for annual fundraising.

In recent years, balancing those objectives has become more of a challenge. Since 2021, the total expenses of camp have risen an average of 9.83% each year, but we have only raised camper tuition an average of 4.17%. So, whereas expenses have increased a total of $700,000 in those years, tuition has only moved approximately $260,000.

Looking to the future, the Board of Directors has recognized that to maintain the historic quality of operations at the Camp, significant increases in camper tuition will be necessary. With that in mind, the Board is greatly concerned about ensuring that the Camp remains affordable “to all who would come.” The intended purpose of the Fund is to thoughtfully establish a funding source that will allow the Camp to maintain both the quality and affordability of the Camp, thereby preserving its historic legacy for the next sixty years, and beyond, Lord willing.

After much study, and prayerful consideration, the Board has set the goal of raising $5,000,000 to establish the Fund necessary to achieve its objectives. There is some indication, and it is the hope of the Board, that one half of the amount needed will come from several significant lead gifts. With the power of the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 in mind, the Board intends to reach out to camp alumni to raise an amount
equal to 5000 gifts of $500 dollars, hoping that some alumni families will be able to make multiple $500 gifts.

The intended use of the fund will be to create optional scholarships for all campers, which can be used to defray anticipated annual increases in tuition, and to ensure, as best as possible, that all those who desire to attend can come. Scholarships will be universally available, without
question or review, to any, and all, campers who elect to claim a needs based scholarship upon registration. The Board anticipates that many future campers will be able to afford expected tuition increases. The optional scholarships provide future campers with the opportunity to forgo the assistance being offered and to pay the actual cost of tuition.

In offering optional scholarships, the Camp will make no judgment as to which campers have genuine need. The task of assessing need is not one that the Camp desires to, or could, make. Therefore, decisions by camp families whether or not to request an optional scholarships will be guided by an honor system. Imperfect as that system may be, the scholarship decision will be best made by those coming to Camp, who know their family’s needs better than we ever could.

With respect to the funds generated from increases in tuition supported by the scholarships resulting from to the God First Fund, the Board intends to carefully establish a forward-looking budget allocation policy intended to secure and build upon the historic legacy of the Camp.
Strong emphasis will be placed upon ensuring maintenance, improvement and expansion of legacy properties and facilities. Equal weight will be given to maintaining and caring for those employees and volunteers who carry out the mission of the Camp. Finally, noting that the Camp has been
traditionally oversubscribed, consideration will be given to additional facilities that more completely fulfill the mission of reaching all who may come.

We are the blessed stewards of a meaningful legacy through which He has impacted the lives of all who would come to Camp. Those who have embraced the “I’m Third” motto go forth from Camp impacting the lives of many more in His name. As you are aware, the firm foundation of the “I’m Third” motto is “God First.” It is our hope that, joined by many who value and love the “I’m Third” mission, we will put our faith and trust in God First, and be His instrument in continuing the mission and legacy of the Camp.