Planned Giving Guide

/files/Images Folder/SrCoupleMtgSS.jpgGiving to The United Methodist Church can take many forms. The Georgia United Methodist Foundation encourages donors to explore ways that are best for them. Options available through planned giving offer creative alternatives that often benefit both donor and recipient.

Here are some charitable gift ideas that are simple to execute, and can be used to benefit your church or church-related charity. Before making a final decision, please consult with your professional financial advisor or contact the Foundation at 770.449.6726 or 877.220.5664.
 

 GIFTS YOU CAN MAKE NOW 

Your Goal 

Type of Gift 

 How to Give

 Benefits

Make a quick and simple gift


 Appreciated Securities


 		 Transfer stock or mutual funds to your church

 Donor avoids capital gains taxes and receives an income tax deduction; church sells shares tax-free. 
Avoid capital gains tax on the sale of a home or other real estate.   Appreciated Real Estate

  		 Donate property to your church.

 		 Immediate income tax deduction and avoidance of capital gains tax. 
Make a gift that allows flexibility and your input on how funds will be distributed. 


 

Donor Advised Fund




 

 Create an aggreement whereby the Foundation manages the assets; you and/or family members advise the Foundation regarding charitable disbursements.  Immediate income tax deduction, flexibility and an opportunity to practice philanthropy on a regular basis.


 
Make a significant gift with little cost to yourself.  Life Insurance

 		 Designate your church as a beneficiary.
 		 Future gift to church.

 
Give your personal residence or farm, but continue to live there.   Retained Life Estate

 		 Designate the ownership of your home to your church, but retain occupancy.   Charitable income tax deduction and lifetime use of your home. 
Avoid taxation on retirement plan assets.
  		 Retirement Plan


 		 Name your church as beneficiary of the remainder of the assets after your lifetime.   Avoidance of heavily taxed gift to heirs.

  

  GIFTS YOU CAN DEFER

 Your Goal 

 Type of Gift 

  How to Give

  Benefits

Defer a gift until after your lifetime.










 Bequest in Will











 Leave your legacy and remind loves ones of your faith by tithing part of your estate to the church. A bequest can be a specific amount or asset, or a percentage of your estate. A residual bequest assigns the amount left in the estate after all other distributions have been made. Your estate receives a tax deduction. The church receives your gift when the estate is settled.







Make a deferred gift, maintain access to assets, avoid probate.



 Living Trust






 Donor places assets into a trust; retains control during lifetime. Foundation becomes trustee upon death of the donor, and makes distributions as directed by donor. Privacy, flexibility, control of trust for lifetime, possible estate tax savings.



LIFE INCOME ARRANGEMENTS  

 Your Goal 

 Type of Gift 

  How to Give

  Benefits

Supplement income with fixed annual payments.




 		 Charitable Gift Annuity





 		 Enter into a contract with the Foundation. Foundation pays you fixed payments for life and distributes remainder to church and other charitable beneficiaries. Charitable income tax deductions, fixed annuity payments for life (portion tax-free), future gift to church.


Supplement income with fixed annual payments. 
 Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
 		 Create a charitable trust that pays you a fixed income. 
 Charitable income tax deduction, fixed income for life, future gift to church.
Create a hedge against inflation over the long term.    Charitable Remainder Unitrust

  		 Create a trust that pays you a percentage of the trust's assets, valued annually.  Immediate income tax deduction, annual income for life that has potential to increase. 
Reduce gift and estate taxes on assets passing to heirs.

 		 Charitable Lead Trust



 		 Create a trust that pays a fixed or variable income to your church or ministry for a set period of time, then passes to heir.  Reduces size of taxable estate; keeps property in family, often with reduced gift taxes.

 


Neither the author, the publisher, nor this organization is engaged in rendering legal or tax advisory service. For advice and assistance in specific cases, the services of an attorney or other professional advisor should be obtained. The purpose of this guide is to provide general gift, estate and financial planning information. State laws govern wills, trusts and charitable gifts made in a contractual agreement. Advice from legal counsel should be sought when considering these types of gifts. Watch for tax revisions. Some types of gifts may not be available in all states. Check with your professional advisor.