Legacy giving
You may have heard the term “legacy giving” but weren’t sure what it meant. Here’s a basic definition: it is simply planning to make a difference, both for yourself and for a cause that you believe in, through a charitable gift. Legacy giving is usually above and beyond normal week to week giving that supports the ongoing ministries of our church. The goal of such gifts is to “leave a legacy” that can make an impact for future generations.
How can I create a legacy for future generations at Dutilh Church?
You can make a lasting difference in the life of Dutilh Church and those it serves by including the church in your personal legacy giving plan. The Endowment Committee was created to specifically to manage endowments for the ongoing benefit of Dutilh Church and its ministries.
Who can create a legacy gift? Is it a complicated process?
Any individual, at any point in life, can create a legacy gift. It can be as easy as naming Dutilh Church on the beneficiary form on a savings, checking or pension account, naming the church as a beneficiary in your will, or through a more complex instrument like a charitable trust. It is important to seek the advice of an estate-planning professional when deciding which option will best achieve your goals. No matter which instrument you choose, all these gifts represent a powerful and meaningful way to create a benevolent legacy for your community and the organizations you care about.
A legacy gift can
- Give you a tax advantage (often the tax benefits are quite substantial)
- Fit appropriately with your estate plans and concerns for heirs
- Complement your lifestyle goals
- Match your wish to leave a legacy to the cause you care about
There are many ways to gift to Dutilh Church through your will
I give and bequeath the sum of $____ (or the % of) to be used to support the ministries of Dutilh Church, Cranberry Twp., PA, USA.
BEQUEST: a gift of personal property, made in a Will. It can be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your net worth, a remainder amount (what’s left after family and other obligations are met), or specific assets to be given to Dutilh Church.
DIRECT CHARITABLE BEQUEST: a Willed gift that goes directly to Dutilh Church . For example, “I bequeath to Dutilh Church the amount of $10,000, and 5% of my remaining estate to Dutilh Church.”
CONTINGENT BEQUEST: a Willed gift that is only given if one or more conditions are met. For example, “If [name] predeceases me, I give (describe gift) to Dutilh Church.”
DEMONSTRATIVE BEQUEST: a gift of a certain amount of property from a specific source or particular fund. For example, “I bequeath ($________) to Dutilh Church to be paid out of the proceeds from the sale of my stock in (name of company).”
RESTRICTED BEQUEST: a Willed gift that provides a sum of money for a specific project or program. For example, “I bequeath (amount or property) to Dutilh Church to benefit the children’s education program.”
UNRESTRICTED BEQUEST: a Willed gift that can be used wherever the need is greatest. This allows the church to respond to the changing needs as they arise, and eliminates the problems that occur when a gift is given to a program that ceases to exist. For example, “...to be used for the benefit of Dutilh Church as its Leadership Board sees fit.”
ENDOWMENT FUND: a Willed gift that is invested to provide income to the named beneficiary. Also called a memorial fund, endowments can be named to honor a loved one. For example, “...to Dutilh Church, the sum of $________ to establish an endowment fund in memory of my parents, to be known as the John and Jane Doe Memorial Fund.
Endowment Funds already established
These five endowments named in memory of those who share their blessing and their faith in Jesus Christ with others, seek to pass along something of the legacy and hope of their donors to succeeding generations of young Christian students through the ministry of Dutilh United Methodist Church.
For more information
Contact
Julie Hines, accounting@dutilhumc.org