PROVO — A fund-raising arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that supports higher education and humanitarian aid is getting new digs in Provo.

LDS Philanthropies is an organization within the church that is charged with encouraging and facilitating donations to church-sponsored higher education institutions, Humanitarian Services and the Perpetual Education Fund, which provides low-interest loans to students around the world for college and other advanced training.

The organization will be moving to a three-story building planned for construction in a seldom-used parking lot on the northwest side of BYU's campus in Provo, at 1500 N. University Ave.

The building is expected to be operational in spring 2008.

In a statement issued Monday, church officials stressed that funds for the building are coming from within the church and all donations to LDS Philanthropies will continue to be used as designated by the donor.

The new building will house both the professional fund-raising staff as well as BYU Telefund, which employs BYU students to work in a call center and solicit donations from BYU alumni.

In the statement, Bishop Richard C. Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric explained the importance of donations in the church's humanitarian undertakings.

"Whenever I am thanked for what the church, including BYU, does to help people, I respond that it is not really the church, but the millions of members and friends with generous hearts who donate just because they want to help," he said. "Thank you for giving and helping."

The Perpetual Education Fund was established in 2001 by President Gordon B. Hinckley as a way to provide education opportunities for men and women who have served missions for the church, and who may not have other means of obtaining an education.

The fund uses donations from members and friends of the church to provide low-interest loans to students, which are repaid after the student graduates and used to help another student.

The fund is available in 31 countries, and church leaders say they are working to further extend its availability.

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