Our “How Your Charitable Heart Can Leave a Legacy” Zoom presentation is next week (September 21, 2021 at 6pm MST/PDT). This one-hour presentation will equip YOU as a congregational leader to educate your faithful members about best practices in navigating a pathway of charitable intent.

As a warmup we share some FAQs on planned giving in this post.

What is Planned Giving?

Also known as Legacy Planning, Estate Planning, and Gift planning, Planned Giving is a proactive action of love and consideration to include our beloved charities and congregations in our end-of-life plans. In this planning, you consider how your remaining assets could benefit your loved ones and your charities. Gift planning empowers you to make decisions that could have a larger impact than ever imagined possible. Whether you have much to give or a small amount to share, your beloved organizations can benefit from a gift plan.

Why would I consider this type of giving?

Giving supports our families and faith community to continue their ministry. Giving is as individually motivated as we have individuals! Everyone’s reasons are different, but there are strategic ways to give in planned giving that can result in larger gifts. These gifts are possibly larger than could even be achieved during one’s lifetime. Some people may not be able to give readily during their lifetime, but at death, would be able to share more. Another strong reason to give is family, including our family of community and congregation. Many times, we spend more time with our community and congregational families than we do our genetic families! We want to assist those charities in a way that continues our legacy of hope and financial support. At the end of the day, we consider this type of gift because it facilitates the generosity of our hearts and continues our service, even after death. Giving, is scientifically proven to increase feel good hormones and increase our wellbeing! I often tell my audiences, “Try it, you’ll like it!”

How do I use planned giving techniques?

There are many strategic planned giving strategies to discuss, and each donor’s circumstances are different. It is best to start with a planned giving specialist to focus on what you want to achieve in your generosity plan and how you will accomplish it. Once you have the goal in mind, you should solicit support from other professionals to execute your goals. Your CPA, Financial Advisor and Attorney should all be considered on your overall financial planning team. Working together, with your gift planning specialist, you can assure your “executive team” are all on the same page and your wishes will be executed exactly as you specified.

Do I have to be rich to leave a planned gift?

NO! All gifts are great! Even the smallest gift is a sign or your generous heart and will add to the overall stability of your charity’s financial position. You might think that planned giving is only for those with an “estate”. The truth is, everyone has an estate no matter how small or big. We have resources on this page to help you have this conversation.

When is the best time to consider executing a planned gift?

Some donors might be able to give now. For others, it might be better to give in their estate planning. With proper planning, you might be able to do both! Your individual situation can be discerned between you and your gift planner. Procrastination is the number one derailer in a giving plan. There is no time like the present!

On September 21, 2021 at 6pm MST/PDT, please join us for a dynamic conversation with Lisa Higginbotham, CFRE and Josh Kerney of ELCA Foundation, as they help us connect our charitable hearts and desires to our gift planning intentions. Please register here.

Planning a legacy is different for each charitable heart, but there are some best practices to help you navigate this pathway of intent.