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Ways to Give
The information on this page is general in nature and is not designed to render legal or tax advice. You should obtain the services of an attorney or professionally trained person for that purpose.
Gifts of Cash
Outright gifts of cash represent a vital and important source of financial support. They are simple to make and to receive. They offer the donor a tax deduction equal to the full value of the gift, as long as charitable deductions do not exceed 50% of the adjusted gross income in the year of the contribution. (Any unused deduction may be carried over to the next five years.)
Gifts may be designated or undesignated.
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Wills
A will is the most common estate planning tool and is one of the simplest ways to make a gift to the Foundation. A will bequest can take the form of a specific monetary amount, a specific asset, a percentage of the estate, or the residue of the estate after other gifts are made to loved ones. Wills can also establish charitable unitrusts, which pay life income to one or two designated people and then benefit the Foundation. This basic estate-planning tool can enable ministry though the Foundation for years to come.
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Real Estate and Appreciated Securities
A charitable gift of property (residential, rental, oil and gas, or commercial) can offer significant income and tax advantages to the donor.
Many donors to the Foundation choose to make gifts of appreciated securities rather than cash to avoid paying tax on the capital gain. For income tax purposes, the value of your gift at the time of donation is deductible.
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Life Insurance
Life insurance provides another excellent means of making a charitable gift to the Foundation. Supporters of church ministries and outreach can make a significant contribution after their death by naming the foundation as one of the beneficiaries of their life insurance policy.
A series of relatively small payments for premiums enables a donor to make a substantial gift. This gift might be greater than what an individual might otherwise be able to afford. In addition, the gift of life insurance will serve as a lasting memorial to you and your family.
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Memorial Gifts
Establishing a memorial fund in the name of the donor or in memory of a cherished friend or relative may be provided for in any of the Life Income Plans offered by the Foundation. The deferred gift will continue to honor the person memorialized and extend the work to Christ’s kingdom for generations.
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Charitable IRA
Persons who are no longer eligible for a tax deduction through funding an Individual Retirement Account may wish to consider placing $2,000 annually in a Deferred Payment Gift Annuity. Donors funding an annual “Charitable IRA” could defer income until retirement, receive an immediate income tax deduction, and have a substantial stream of income that is partially tax free during their retirement years.
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A Sale and Unitrust
This type of gift arrangement involves the combination of a Sale of a portion of an asset and a funding of a Charitable Remainder Unitrust with the balance of an asset. This combination sale and gift is excellent for converting highly appreciated low-yield property into both liquidity and an investment asset with little or no capital gains tax.
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An Educational Unitrust
Parents or grandparents may transfer an appreciated asset to a Term of Years charitable Remainder Unitrust for the benefit of a student. By properly structuring the trust, the donor can receive a significant income tax deduction, large capital gains tax savings, and pass income to the student during the term of the trust while bypassing the gift tax. After the term of years, the Foundation would receive the trust assets.
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A Retirement Unitrust
This type of trust uses a Charitable Remainder Unitrust and is usually funded during the last 10 to 15 years before retirement. Since the remainder eventually goes to the Foundation, there will be an income tax deduction each year in which a transfer is made to the trust based on the value of the property transferred. If the income is left to accumulate in the trust, the trustee can invest for growth and the trust will provide a generous supplemental income during retirement. The Unitrust is not subject to executor’s fees, estate taxes, or probate costs.
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Life Income Plans
What is Life Income Plan?
A Life Income Plan is a financial and philanthropic arrangement whereby a gift to the Foundation of cash, securities, or other property continues to provide income for life to the donor and/or another person whom the donor may designate. After the lifetime of the income beneficiaries, the gift passes permanently to the Foundation.
What Does a Life Income Plan Offer You?
The benefits of a Life Income Plan are many:
  • The joy of providing a significant gift to advance the mission of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church.
  • A life income which may be larger than the income previously produced by the donated assets.
  • A substantial income tax charitable deduction.
  • Avoidance of capital gains tax on any appreciation in the value of the donated asset.
  • Possible tax savings on the income you receive.
  • Estate tax savings.
  • No financial management worries or responsibilities.
  • An opportunity to honor a cherished relative or friend through establishing a memorial fund.
  • The satisfaction of knowing that you have provided a legacy for the Church during your lifetime.
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Charitable Gift Annuities
What is a Charitable Gift Annuity?
  A Charitable Gift Annuity is an agreement under which a donor irrevocably transfers cash, securities, or other assets to the Foundation for the benefit of the Church. In return, the Foundation promises to pay an annuity or fixed dollar amount to one or two annuitants for as long as they live. The annuitants may include you, your spouse, some other family member, or friend.
    A Charitable Gift Annuity is a combination “gift” and “investment.” The amount of the yearly payment is computed at the time of the gift from the tables of the Committee on Gift Annuities. Determining factors are age, sex, and number of annuitants. (Note: If the donated asset is in the form of long-term, appreciated securities, part of the annual payment may be taxable at the capital gains rate.)
  What does a Charitable Gift Annuity Offer?
   
  • Satisfaction – You are assured of the lifetime joy of helping to enlarge and strengthen the outreach of the church.
  • Guaranteed Life Income – You receive an attractive income guaranteed for life at an annual rate, depending on your age and the value of the principal provided.
  • Tax Advantages – You receive substantial tax benefits including taxable deductions, tax-free income, capital gains tax savings, and no estate tax.
  • Safety – You are freed from burdensome investment decisions while being provided with maximum safety.
  • Flexibility – Your Gift Annuity may be created with cash, securities, or real or other property, and may be for any specified amount.
  • Your Legacy – The principal that remains after death is a gift to:
    • Special projects or certain capital expenditures that support Lovers Lane beyond the church’s normal operations.
    • Special benevolence and/or mission work.
    • The Foundation Endowment Fund, to be held and invested in perpetuity with only the income going one-half to special projects or capital expenditures and one-half to special benevolence and/or mission work
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Is a Charitable Gift Annuity Right for You?
    A Charitable Gift Annuity can be shaped to meet your needs. Most commonly, it appeals to donors able to make gifts of $2,000 or more who wish to ultimately help Lovers Lane United Methodist Church while receiving a guaranteed life income with certain beneficial tax considerations.
    Donors with an eye toward retirement, who anticipate a reduced income stream, may wish to consider a Deferred Payment Charitable Gift Annuity. If you have a high current income and could benefit from a tax deduction now, you may wish to consider this type of annuity. Your annuity payments can be “deferred” until your retirement years when you will presumable be in a lower tax bracket.
  A Brief Example -- NOTE: As rates change periodically, please call the Foundation Office for the most current rates and to obtain an accurate summary for your gift.
    A donor, age 72, is considering a gift of $10,000 in securities to a Charitable Gift Annuity for Lovers Lane United Methodist Church.
    If these securities yield $400 in annual income, which is a 4% return. Here is what the gift can accomplish for his or her income:
  Current Charitable Gift Annuity
    Value of Asset $10,000 $10,000
    Estimated Annual Income 800  
    Charitable deduction on federal income tax 0 4,555
    Actual tax savings (31% bracket) 0 1,276
    Annual return from investing Tax savings at 8% 0 102
    Total annual income 400 *902
    After-tax income (31% bracket) 288 668
    *partly tax-free    
    Note: This example assumes a $5,000 cost basis for the asset.
    By making the gift, the donor can appreciably increase the tax-free income he or she receives. Here are the benefits of a $10,000 Gift:
Age of Donor Charitable Deduction Annuity Rate Annual Annuity Tax-Free Income Taxable Income
    60 $4,237 7.0% $700 $239 $461
    70 $4,704 7.8% $780 $333 $447
    80 $5,217 9.6% $960 $509 $451
    82 $5,306 10.1% $1,010 $582 $428
    90 $5,461 12.0% $1,200 $817 $383
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Estate Gifts
As you have given throughout your life, remember to include the Foundation as a part of your estate plan. Charitable giving is an important part of estate plans because of the beneficial tax advantages provided to charitable gifts. By providing a legacy gift to the Foundation, you can provide a permanent gift to your church that will support its ministries and Foundation perpetually.
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