You may already know that most of our regular giving to the church comes from people’s income – a paycheck, pension, or Social Security. However, did you know that you may also choose to give from your assets? For the generous Christian, tax advantages are seldom a primary motivation for giving, but they should be considered as part of good stewardship. Gifts of stocks, bonds, real estate, or other assets can be a blessing to our church and can offer significant tax considerations to you. For example, if you have assets in IRAs and have to take mandatory distributions, you can avoid taxes by designating funds to the church.

 

Planned gifts cost nothing today and allow you to make an incredible impact for years to come. Here are some ways you can offer a gift that can make a lasting difference:

• Give to Good Shepherd a part of your estate through a will or trust

• Designate Good Shepherd as a beneficiary of your 401(k), IRA, life insurance policy, etc.

• Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your Individual Retirement Account

• Give appreciated assets like stocks, securities, or mutual funds

 

If you’re like most of us, you don’t give money to the church just to receive tax benefits. You give because of your love for God and your desire to express that love to those around you. You also give as an act of worship and gratitude to God. This doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t take advantage of tax breaks you could receive by making charitable contributions in these ways. So, consult your tax or financial advisor today about the details of implementing one or more of these charitable giving strategies. You can also contact Rev. Sheila for more information and to discuss your giving goals.