Serving Donors

Everything is possible.

Gift Planning

Thousands of donors each year discover that with a little bit of planning they can support ministry in ways and at a level they never imagined. For example, did you know that charitable giving could have the following benefits to you and your family?

• Bypass capital gains tax.
• Increase income to yourself.
• Give now but distribute to ministries at a later date.

Charitable giving options can be complex and confusing, but we try to make it easy and understandable with examples and illustrations.

Gift model overview: an introduction to charitable giving options.

Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs)

CGAs are life income gifts: you transfer assets now, receiving a charitable deduction, and you or a beneficiary receives income for the rest of your life or a fixed period of time. Both you and ministries can benefit from a CGA.

Charitable Gift Annuities overview.

Endowments

When you establish an endowment, you can be assured that it will produce income for that ministry forever. A large portion of the income goes to the ministry; a small portion is returned to the endowment's principal. Long after you are gone, your gift will still be giving!

About Endowments, including an Endowment Agreement Application.

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)

DAFs are a popular way of giving that feature the following benefits:

• High tax deduction.
• Ease of splitting one gift to multiple recipients.
• Give now but distribute to ministries at a later date.
• Family involvement in long-term giving.
• The option of anonymous giving.

Donor Advised Fund overview and comparison to a private foundation.

Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs)

CRTs do not pay any capital gains taxes. These taxes can range from 15% to 25% of an asset's growth in value. For this reason, CRTs are ideal for assets like stocks or real estate with a low cost basis but high appreciated value.

Charitable Remainder Trust overview.

Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs)

When making a charitable gift, you have many options. You can give cash, stock, bonds, land, buildings, or virtually anything of value. With a CLT, charities and ministries are the income beneficiaries, receiving a steady stream of income during the owner's lifetime. At the owner's death, named beneficiaries then receive the CLT's assets.

Charitiable Lead Trusts overview.

Estate Planning

Several studies in recent years tell us that approximately 60% of Americans die without a valid will or revocable trust. Furthermore, experience tells us that of those who do have valid estate planning documents, a high percentage no longer reflect their current wishes. A valid and up to date estate plan is an important part of being a good and faithful steward of God's resources.

Our estate planning guide is designed to help you gather the information necessary to update or initiate a valid estate plan.

Estate planning guide.