The many ways to give and the life income plans described below are best understood with specific personalized information. Please contact us to receive a no-obligation illustration of the plan that appears most appropriate for you.

The following charitable ways to give and charitable life income plans are available through and encouraged by Lutheran Planned Giving in the Arkansas-Oklahoma and Central States Synods and your ELCA Foundation.

BEQUEST: The most common of all deferred giving plans. Bequests may be made in your will using a percentage, a specified amount, a specific property, or your residual estate.

LIFE INSURANCE GIFT: The easiest way for you to make a gift of life insurance is to include a percentage to your favorite ministry choice as part of the primary beneficiary designation. Ask your insurance representative for help.

You can also make substantial gifts to your favorite ministry by purchasing a new policy or transferring ownership of an existing policy that you no longer need. You can transfer the policy to make the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or a specific ministry the owner and irrevocable beneficiary. After you have done that, premiums paid by you to continue coverage are tax deductible if you itemize your tax deductions.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY: You make an irrevocable gift of $1,000 or more of cash or marketable securities for an ELCA ministry of your choice and in return receive an agreement that the ELCA will pay an annuity for one or two lifetimes to individual annuitants named by you. You receive an income tax deduction now to be used if you itemize deductions. You select the charitable beneficiaries that will receive the remainder of the annuity at the death of the final individual income beneficiary. (Click here for more information about Charitable Gift Annuities.)

When you give appreciated stock, which you have owned for at least 12 months, you by-pass capital gains tax and receive an income tax deduction if you itemize. When you use the services of the ELCA Foundation to give stock to your congregation or other ELCA ministries, you pay a reduced fee on the stock transfer and sale, thereby maximizing your gift. (For more information about giving stock, click here.)

PAYABLE ON DEATH NOTE: With this simple revocable arrangement you can attach a variety of assets (IRA's, CD's, TSA's, TDA's, annuities, employee savings plans, etc.) to facilitate a gift to your favorite ministry at your death.

POOLED INCOME FUND: You make an irrevocable gift of $2,500 or more of cash or marketable securities in exchange for a life income to individual beneficiaries. The funds are commingled ("pooled") and the income share is determined and distributed on a quarterly basis from the total trust fund's earnings. You receive an income tax deduction now and usually bypass most capital gains taxes. You select the charitable beneficiaries that will receive the remainder of the trust at the death of the final individual income beneficiary. The ELCA currently maintains two pooled income funds, one for income, the other for growth and income.

DEFERRED PAYMENT CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY: You make an irrevocable gift of $1,000 or more of cash or marketable securities for an ELCA ministry of your choice and in return receive an agreement that the ELCA will pay an annuity for one or two lifetimes to individual annuitants named by you. The annuity payments are deferred to start at a later date, such as retirement. This is an especially good tool for retirement planning, as there is no limit to the amount of the gifts that may be made into this type of plan. You receive a current income tax deduction now to be used if you itemize deductions. You select the charitable beneficiaries that will receive the remainder of the annuity at the death of the final income beneficiary.

CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST: You make an irrevocable gift of $100,000 or more of real estate, marketable securities or cash into a charitable remainder trust. Individual income beneficiaries receive annual income determined by the trust's percentage and the annual market value of the trust. The unitrust is particularly appropriate for gifts of highly appreciated assets because of the bypass of capital gains. You receive a current income tax deduction now to be used if you itemize deductions. You select the charitable beneficiaries that will receive the remainder of the trust at the death of the final individual income beneficiary. You can make additional gifts to a unitrust.

CHARITABLE REMAINDER ANNUITY TRUST: You make an irrevocable gift of $100,000 or more of real estate, marketable securities or cash into a charitable remainder trust. Individual income beneficiaries receive annual income determined by the trust's percentage and the initial gift value of the trust. Gifts of highly appreciated assets to an annuity trust bypass capital gains. You receive a current income tax deduction now to be used if you itemize deductions. You select the charitable beneficiaries that will receive the remainder of the trust at the death of the final individual income beneficiary.

CHARITABLE LIFE ESTATE AGREEMENT: You may irrevocably deed your ownership in your mortgage-free residence to the ELCA. You will receive a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market future value of the home that you may use if you itemize deductions. You will be responsible for the upkeep and well-being of the residence. When you die or no longer wish to live in the residence, the ELCA Foundation will sell the property and the charitable beneficiaries that you selected will receive the proceeds of the sale. There is no income generated by this gift.

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