Distribution of Funds

The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) assists religious institutes in the United States that have insufficient retirement savings through the annual distribution of funds from the Retirement Fund for Religious.

Ordinarily, 80 to 90 percent of donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious are allocated to assist with the direct care of senior religious. Religious communities may apply annually for these funds, and the NRRO encourages community leaders to use Direct Care Assistance for both current and future elder-care needs.

Approximately 5 to 10 percent of donations are distributed as Planning and Implementation Assistance. These funds are targeted for religious communities that are less than 50 percent funded for retirement. The purpose of these distributions is to assist religious institutes with planning for long-term financial viability in terms of retirement funding. The NRRO and its volunteer consultants work with religious institutes to develop and implement a strategy for augmenting and stabilizing retirement savings.

The NRRO also sets aside a small portion of the collection proceeds each year for Management and Continuing Education Assistance. Religious institutes may apply for funds for ongoing education in elder care, financial management, or fund raising. This assistance may also be used to supplement the acquisition of such basic management tools as a financial forecast, or it may support the first-time computerization of financial or development records.