Foundation FAQs
1) What is Planned Giving?
It is a planning process that a donor carefully considers for the purpose of making a gift, either for current or deferred use, that integrates financial and estate planning concepts. Usually it is transacted through a legal document, such as a will, trust or a specific application form. Planned Giving includes a variety of charitable strategies that help you provide for your church, the ministries of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church or other Christian organizations, while also advancing your own financial and personal objectives.
2) How do I benefit from Planned Giving?
There are many advantages to Planned Giving. You may receive an income for life in return for your charitable gift. You may also save on income, capital gains and estate tax. You have the ability to make a significant investment in the lives of people directly impacted by the Christian ministries of your choice.
3) How do my heirs benefit?
They may benefit tremendously from your gift. For instance, you can establish a gift to pay your spouse an income for life. Also, a planned gift can reduce your estate tax. The assets that you transfer to the EPC Foundation remain outside of your taxable estate.
4) How does the Evangelical Presbyterian Church benefit from a Planned Gift?
Your gift can make a significant impact on the Church now and in the future. You can choose to direct your gift to assist any local Church, Presbytery and approved ministry of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
5) Can I benefit other Christian ministries through the EPC Foundation?
Absolutely! At the EPC Foundation, there are certain planned gifts that provide you with the flexibility to benefit both the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and other Christian ministries of your choice.
6) I am not particularly wealthy, but I would still like to give to my church or to another Christian ministry. How can Planned Giving help me?
There is a gift arrangement for everyone, regardless of your situation. For many, a bequest through one's estate is the best way to give. Also, naming the EPC Foundation as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or savings account can be a tax efficient way to make your bequest. For others, a life income plan can help increase your income and save on taxes, making planned giving a blessing to others.
7) What other assets should I consider gifting by bequest?
Qualified retirement plans make the best assets to leave to the EPC Foundation. Your estate avoids all income and transfer taxes. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds and real estate also make tremendous bequest assets. You can either leave them directly to the Foundation or use them to fund a life income plan for one or more of your heirs.
8) I want to be charitable to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church yet I still want to help other community organizations. Can I still base my giving at the EPC Foundation?
Many of our gifting strategies allow you to allocate a percentage of your giving to non-EPC related ministries. The EPC Donor - Advised Fund allows you to do so. You can transfer your gift of one asset and benefit a multitude of Christian organizations.
9) Our church is thinking about conducting a capital funds campaign. Where do we start?
A capital funds campaign can be a wonderful experience or a miserable experience for a church. Tremendous prayer, planning, and wise counsel is necessary in conducting a campaign. There is also a long list of organizations that assist churches in these kinds of endeavors. Interview many churches that have been through a campaign to determine what they did right and what they did wrong.
