“All that we have is Thine alone,

a trust, O Lord, from Thee”

Q: What is a planned gift?

A: A planned gift is a future gift to charity or ministry that you provide for in your estate plans.

Q: I don’t have an estate, do I?

A: If you are an adult who owns property (real estate, life insurance, IRA’s or qualified pensions . . .), you have an estate and can plan gifts for your favorite ministries when you die.

Q: Isn’t planned giving something that only rich people do?

A: No! You give from your estate at death for the same reason you give from your income while you’re living. Many gifts from small estates can have a tremendous impact for ministries and charities. Planning such gifts can help you and your family put your possessions in perspective and witness to your faith and values.

Q: Isn’t planned giving something only older people do?

A: No! All adults should have an estate plan, and most any estate plan can include planned gifts for ministries and charities.

Q: Will making a planned gift adversely affect my family and heirs?

A: It depends on how and when you make a gift. Married couples often plan for the gift to be given only after both have died. The Internal Revenue Code recognizes the value of charitable gifts and includes a number of tax breaks for donors. In some cases, a planned gift can actually enhance your current income and your children’s inheritance.

Q: Are there resources available to help determine what kind of planned gift would work for me?

A: Yes! Your attorney, accountant or other financial advisor can assist you. Another excellent resource is the Lutheran Planned Giving office in St. Charles, Missouri. You can contact Pr. Dennis Hallemeier using the information listed on the 'Contact Us' page. Or you can call the ELCA Foundation toll free at (800) 638-3522, ext. 2970.

The sponsoring ministries of Lutheran Planned Giving

provide Pr. Hallemeier’s services at no cost or obligation.

Time to Jump into the Pool?

All your life you have been a steward of Christ.

You wish to make a significant gift to your favorite ministry.

However, you may need on-going income.

For a minimum gift of $2,500 you can join many others who have already made gifts through the ELCA Foundation Pooled Income Fund.

When you are “in the pool,” you can enjoy:

You choose which ELCA ministries will be the charitable beneficiaries. Your gift can benefit any ELCA churchwide or global ministry, congregation, seminary, social ministry organization, college, campus ministry, outdoor ministry, auxiliary organization, etc.

You choose whether a predictable income or increased growth is more important to you. The ELCA Foundation has a growth fund (investing 60% in equity funds and 40% in bond funds) and an income fund (investing 10% in equity funds and 90% in bond funds). For example, a $10,000 gift made in 1982 to the growth fund had a value of $43,114 in 2001. A similar gift made to the income fund was valued at $13,788.

Often referred to as a charitable cousin to the mutual fund, the Pooled Income Fund “pools” your gift with gifts from other individuals. Professional investors manage the Fund of pooled gifts. You receive quarterly income based on your share of the income from the pool. You can start with $2,500 and make additional contributions of at least $2,500 as often as you like.

For more information or a personal visit, contact Pr. Dennis Hallemeier using the information listed on the 'Contact Us' page.

A “Wills, Estates and Gift Planning” Seminar in your congregation

As you plan adult education programs for 2002, consider inviting Pr. Dennis Hallemeier to provide a seminar on planned giving. Denny is Regional Gift Planner for the ELCA Foundation in Arkansas-Oklahoma and Central States Synods. He is available to conduct seminars to discuss the stewardship implications in will and estate planning and in various planned giving tools and techniques.

Pr. Hallemeier is not an attorney or professional financial planner. However, he is able to discuss some of the tax implications of planned giving in order to maximize benefits to heirs.

He brings all the equipment and materials for each seminar. The congregation provides only a projection screen (or white wall!). He also adapts to whatever your space and time constraints may be.

There is no cost for Pr. Hallemeier’s services, nor will there be any “sales pitch” or intimidating pressures applied. Since the ELCA Foundation and the 15 other sponsoring ministries provide all of Pr. Hallemeier’s salary and expenses, he has no products to sell and earns no commissions. His purpose is to provide education and motivation related to the important stewardship issues of estate planning and gifts for ministries.

If individuals or households want confidential consultation after a seminar, those visits also are without cost or obligation.

Pr. Hallemeier is already scheduling seminars for the Fall of 2002. So you might want to call, write or email him soon to claim a time for a seminar in your congregation! He can also assist your congregation in setting up a mission endowment fund or, if such a fund already exists, he can assist the endowment fund committee in its work.

What role do you want to play in our Church’s future? Naming the Church as a beneficiary in your estate plan or setting up an endowment gift can assure your continued participation in ministry far into the future.

Lutheran Planned Giving

Services to individuals:

Services to congregations:

Sponsors:

Information and examples in this newsletter are for educational purposes only and should not be considered tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisors about your own will, trust or estate plan.

Content Copyright (c)2000, Lutheran Planned Giving in the Arkansas-Oklahoma and Central States Synods.  All rights reserved.