Legacy Giving

“Planned giving” means mapping out a plan for making gifts to your church. You may integrate planned giving into your financial strategies during different phases of life. Many individuals consider planned giving when they decide how to transfer their estates to the places and people whom they want to benefit from a lifetime of hard work. In addition to fulfilling their charitable goals and acknowledging (financially and spiritually) their gratefulness to God, donors may receive tax benefits and lifetime incomes through several types of tax-favored plans. Planned giving takes many forms and is tailored to meet the needs and goals of the donor.

A gift to the Endowment Fund reflects our faith and love in Christ. As Christian Stewards, we give back to God as a way of life out of the abundance with which God has gifted us.

The Legacy Ministry Committee, with approval of the Administrative Board, establishes the funds that make up the endowment and is responsible for administering distributions to the respective ministries involved. Designated endowments are distributed according to the designations made by the donor.

Typically, the addition of an endowment program creates a new stream of income for a church. In most churches, 99.5% of the operating budget is funded by gifts from income while planned gifts to the church endowment are given almost 100% from assets.

Your annual gift to the church funds the budget allowing the church to provide ministry each year. Gifts to the Endowment Fund are gifts that are invested to provide a funding source in perpetuity to support ministries above and beyond those provided for by the annual budget.

Please don’t. We ask our members to continue their annual pledge and to give to the Endowment Fund above and beyond their annual gift.

Endowments are funded through outright gifts, pledges, donations of securities or other noncash assets as well as through a variety of planned gifts. These gifts include gifts in your will, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and beneficiary designations in retirement plans, financial accounts and insurance policies.

Due West Methodist Church gives donors the option for gifts to the endowment during life as well as giving at death. Donors who give during their life get to see the benefits of their gifts. Some examples of gifts during your life are cash, stocks and bonds, and property. Any gift of any size is important and very much appreciated. (Give Now)

We have invested the endowment funds with the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. The funds are invested to ensure that ministries are supported over a long period of time. For more information, please contact our representative on your Legacy Ministry Committee at endowment@duewest.org or go to the Foundation website at www.gumf.org/about-us.

A gift to the Endowment Fund is a wonderful way to memorialize a special person in your life. Memorial gifts to the Endowment Fund may be undesignated or added to an already existing designated endowment fund. Currently our existing designated funds are capital improvements, missions, children’s ministry, youth ministry and music ministry.

Yes, you may name a fund i.e. “The James Jones Endowment” with a minimum gift of $20,000. The fund may be designated for a specific purpose within the Endowment Fund or be used for undesignated purposes. (Give Now)

Please let us know if you plan to remember Due West Methodist Church in your will or estate plan. We want to thank you. You may contact the Pastor or complete the Legacy Gift Confirmation form at the church office. (Give Now)

Endowing your annual giving amount for use for the annual budget would assure that your annual giving would continue in perpetuity. You may do this by leaving enough of your assets that the income from the assets would produce the same amount as your annual pledge.

You may tithe your estate by giving 10% of your estate to the endowment fund.

YES! Without a will, the laws of the state will determine who will receive your assets and who will manage your estate. As a result, the state may not include all of the persons or charities that you would like to benefit. A will allows you to appoint a guardian for your minor children, choose a representative to carry out your wishes and determine the final distribution of your estate assets. Giving through a will and through beneficiary designations are some of the simplest ways to make a planned gift. You state in your will the amount or percentage of assets that are to pass to the church. You receive an estate tax deduction for the amount of the gift. There is no limit on the amount that can be deducted for estate tax purposes.

Please contact Due West’s Legacy Ministry Chair at endowment@duewest.org. You may also receive free confidential consultation from the Georgia United Methodist Foundation toll free at 877.220.5664 or visit the planned giving tab at www.gumf.org.