Planned Giving & Bequests

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

After considering the needs of your family, you may wish to leave all, or a portion, of your estate to one or more ministries of Bethel Lutheran Church. By contributing to Bethel, we have an opportunity to serve people in ways that we as individuals could never accomplish alone. Even small bequests are appreciated – just look at what our Lord did with the loaves and fishes!

There are a number of opportunities to give:

  • Remember Bethel Lutheran Church in your will.
  • Give to Bethel through life insurance or through a property trust
  • Give to the Bethel Lutheran Church Endowment Fund which provides grants annually to ministry projects which seek to extend the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Benefits of Making a Charitable Gift

  • You have the satisfaction of knowing that the work you supported in this life can be carried on after your death.
  • You have a chance to say “thank you” to an organization that has been particularly helpful or meaningful to you and your family during your lifetime.
  • You can designate your bequest as a memorial to loved ones.
  • In the case of a life income gift, you can receive income from the gift, part of which may be tax-free.
  • Most charitable gifts are deducted from the estate before taxes, possibly resulting in reduced taxes for your heirs.

Gifts to Bethel

There are many ways to make year-round gifts to support Bethel.

  • Gifts of cash support ministry today and eliminate or reduce income tax on up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income.
  • Gifts of appreciated stock, bonds, or mutual funds can be deductible at full market value for up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income and allow you to bypass capital gains tax.
  • Gifts from your IRA: Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) are mandatory for IRA owners who are 70½ or older. Charitable deductions can be taken for the same amount as the gift.
  • Life income agreements such as charitable gift annuities and charitable trusts can provide income for life and then support your favorite ministry. They can be funded in a variety of ways and may provide an annuity payment greater than the income your assets are currently producing.
  • Bequests allow you to make a significant gift to ministry without reducing your current income. A distribution agreement or memorial endowment fund, funded through a bequest, provides choices and flexibility on how your gift is used and named.