The following secure method provides a convenient way to financially contribute to Grace Lutheran Church.Giving online is easy, but that’s not the only benefit.
Giving online is easy, but that’s not the only benefit. Here are a few other advantages we’ve heard:
You can quickly give a one-time gift, or you can create a login and set up a recurring gift.
As part of the original Pension Protection Act of 2006, a provision was implemented for taxpayers ages 70 ½ and older, allowing distributions from IRA accounts to be made directly to charitable organizations such as Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation.
This provision has expired and been restored several times over the last several years. As part of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH), this charitable giving opportunity was made permanent.
Under this provision a donor can instruct the trustee of their IRA to make a direct gift to a qualifying charitable organization with no adverse tax consequences.
An individual can make charitable contributions of up to $100,000 directly from their IRA to a charity without that amount being included in taxable income. Contributions made under these provisions are not subject to tax on the distribution and are not eligible for a charitable contribution deduction, but they are not subject to a limitation based on adjusted gross income, as other contributions may be.
Taxpayers can also satisfy their required minimum distribution from their IRA’s with this transfer. This provision provides some unique planning opportunities for taxpayers and can result in additional benefits for charitable organizations such as the Church and the Foundation. If you have questions or would like more information, contact your tax advisor or the Church or Foundation.
Terry Andersen, CPA
The Grace Lutheran Congregation Council, at the recommendation of the Finance Committee, recently took action to designate a generous bequest from the estate of Millie Poppendick, to establish a Facilities Endowment Fund in her name. Millie’s bequest totaled $500,000 of which $350,000 established the endowment and the council later added $150,000 in undesignated funds to bring the total endowment to $500,000. The earnings from the endowment will help care for Grace church facilities.
This very generous bequest came as a pleasant surprise to the pastors and Congregation Council. While Millie was a long-time member, she was quiet and unassuming. Pastor Greg observed, “I would see Millie arrive right before worship started. She would always smile and greet me, but she would leave as soon as worship was over.”
One of Millie’s friends at Grace, Sallie Weber, shared, “While Millie was a very private person, she loved to travel to Europe and enjoyed learning about other cultures. Millie spoke French and possibly other languages. She also told me of visits to Rome and Paris and loved to watch travel shows on TV.” Pastor Ken recalls his visits with Millie by saying; “My visits with her were remarkably like what Sallie observed. I found Millie to be very gracious and hospitable. She didn’t talk about herself and didn’t have any family to talk about, but Millie had a real heart for Grace Lutheran Church and our ministry.”
Susan Albers, a Grace member who lived on the same street as Millie for several years shared her observations; “Millie was a woman of great faith. She worshipped regularly and this sustained her life. While she didn’t feel comfortable being out in front of people, she wanted to give back to her church and her Lord!”
Now because of Millie’s great faith and her very generous bequest, the facilities of Grace Lutheran Church will be cared for into perpetuity. Establishing an endowment means that the corpus of the endowment will grow and only the earnings will be used. The endowment will also free up more funds for ministry in the congregation.
If you would like more information on how you can leave a bequest or make a planned gift to Grace Lutheran Church or the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation, email finance@gracehendersonville.org. The unique thing about leaving a bequest in your will or making a planned gift is that you retain use of the funds during your lifetime, and they go to Grace Lutheran Church at your death. You don’t have to give $500,000 like Millie did, but be assured that whatever you do give, it will be used to build up God’s Kingdom through the ministry of Grace Lutheran Church.
