Planned Giving
What is a Planned Gift?
Any gift made during a lifetime as part of ones estate, whether by will, a trust or other means.
What is the Ministry of Planned Giving?
It is a ministry of guidance and legacy stewardship that can assist you in end of life preparation and estate planning. It is also raising awareness about how our spiritual legacy is intertwined with our financial legacy.
Why Make a Planned Gift?
The church teaches that everything we have is a gift from God. Careful management of financial assets should include plans for orderly disposition at death. The legacy we leave for the church is a witness to our faith and will help ensure that the ministry of the church will continue after we are gone. When you name your church, the diocese, or an Episcopal institution as the beneficiary of a planned gift, typically those assets will be placed in an endowment fund of that congregation or institution. Earnings from endowments are used for mission and ministry beyond the normal operating budget, and in accordance with any specific designations you may choose to make.
What Kinds of Gifts Can Be Given?
There are numerous forms of permanent gifts, such as:
- A Will: Provides for family first, and then remembers the church and other charities in the form of a bequest.
- A Charitable Gift Annuity: Simplest form of planned gift. Provides donor with a fixed income stream for one or two lives with remainder to church at death.
- A Charitable Remainder Trust: Provides the donor with flexible options for life income, and then afterwards makes a major gift to the church.
- A Gift of Life Insurance: Names the church as beneficiary of an existing policy or a new policy.
- A Gift of Retirement Assets: Names the church as one of the primary beneficiaries of a retirement account.
All Saints’ Legacy Society
What is a Legacy Society?
A legacy society is comprised of a group of individuals who have remembered their church as one of the primary beneficiaries in their will, or who have made some form of permanent gift to their church. Everyone who joins, or is already a member of their church’s legacy society, automatically becomes a member of the All Saints’ Legacy Society.
What is the relationship between a church legacy society and the diocesan All Saints’ Legacy Society?
The All Saints’ Legacy Society operates as an umbrella organization, providing education and support for individual legacy societies in Episcopal churches throughout the Diocese of Maryland.
Why is a legacy society important?
- A legacy society raises awareness of planned giving in the congregation and diocese and offers opportunities for individuals to witness to their good stewardship in supporting the future life and ministry of the church.
- A legacy society provides an opportunity to acknowledge and thank donors during their life times for making a bequest to their church.
- A legacy society helps a parish to stay connected with its donors, some of whom may be less involved or who may not attend church as regularly as they used to.
The Diocese of Maryland works in partnership with the Episcopal Church Foundation for gift planning services.
For more information about Planned Giving in the Diocese of Maryland, contact Ellen Chatard, Director of Development and Communications.
An All Saints Legacy Society enrollment form in Adobe *.pdf format is available by clicking here.
More information may be found in Episcopal Church Foundation's publication, Planning for the End of Life.
Thank you to all of those who have joined the All Saints' Legacy Society. You may view a list of members by clicking here.
