Thinking of making planned gift

Mrs. Smith phoned the planned giving office of the diocese one spring morning and asked "I'm thinking of making a gift to the church but I’m not sure how to go about it.  Can you help?"
The answer to Mrs. Smith was to pose a question: "What are your needs and what would you like to accomplish with your gift?"

Everyone's needs are unique. We talked to Mrs. Smith about her needs and asked:

• What areas of ministry is she passionate about? 
• Did she wish to see her money at work now while she is still alive or did she have a deep desire to have a part of her live on through a bequest to a ministry that has been a favourite?
• Did she wish to maximize tax savings now or was she more concerned about the need to optimize tax savings for her estate?
• Would she want restrictions on the use of the gift or have it endow future ministry?
• Is her priority cash flow now or protection of the assets of her estate?

The answers to these questions help formulate a planned gift that meets the needs of the donor, his or her heirs, and the church.

Because needs are so individual, the options for making a planned gift are quite varied. It is always a good idea to discuss your gift with your parish representative or the diocesan Planned Giving Officer. Each has been trained to enter into a dialogue with you about the options for making a planned gift that will fit with your needs. They have been trained to put your needs first. They are also trained to direct you to seek independent outside advice from legal or financial planners.

If you are thinking about a planned gift you want to consider these issues and make sure you maximize the impact your gift makes on the ministry of the church and on your own long term financial plan.

You can contact us for more information. Just click on the Planned Giving staff link. We will help you approach your planned gift decision with all the facts you need.

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