Planned Giving

From Generation to Generation: St. Mark's Planned Giving

Good stewardship of our time, talents and treasures includes the notion of maximizing our resources beyond our lifetime. St. Mark’s welcomes estate gifts and has been significantly blessed as a result of forethought and planning by many who have gone before us. In our recent history, a significant bequest from the estate of Lillian Campbell helped St. Mark’s survive and thrive during a difficult time of transition.

As you contemplate how your resources will be distributed upon death, please consider St. Mark’s as a potential beneficiary of your estate. The following are a few ways you can make a significant difference in the life of St. Mark’s, without a change in your lifestyle today. As with any financial decision, it is important to consult with an attorney who specializes in estate and financial planning to ensure that your estate planning wishes are carried out in the most tax advantageous way possible.

Bequest

A bequest to St. Mark’s is as simple as adding a codicil to your will. This is the most common planned gift and it may provide you with valuable estate tax savings. The following language would be appropriate for a bequest:


“I give and bequeath_______

(percentage of fund or stated dollar amount) of my estate (as that term is defined in the federal estate tax laws) to St. Mark’s subject to its governing instruments, policies and procedures, as amended from time to time.

Life Insurance

Gifts of life insurance are another simple way to make a planned gift.  You may choose to give the church a policy no longer needed, take out a new policy in St. Mark’s name or designate St. Mark’s as a beneficiary of an existing policy.  Each of these ways can provide you with valuable income and estate tax savings.

Retirement Accounts

Qualified retirement plan accounts are subjected to layers of taxation (i.e., estate tax, federal income tax and state income tax). For some accounts, the combination of these taxes can be as high as 75-85 percent! A charitable gift of these funds, however, may provide St. Mark’s with 100% of the value.

Charitable Remainder Trust

A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) allows you to establish a trust for the ultimate benefit of St. Mark’s while retaining the use of the income generated by the assets while you are still alive. A CRT may eliminate capital gains taxes, reduce or eliminate estate taxes, improve lifetime cash flow, and may provide for heirs as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

For More Information:

Contact Chip Bennett at (630) 649-0010 or Rev. George Smith at (630) 858-1020.