planned giving

Gift planning reflects stewardship. Planned gifts are made from property you have stewarded over a lifetime. They represent a legacy passed from one generation to the next. Most planned gifts are fulfilled at death. Often, a planned gift is the largest single gift someone makes.  

Planned giving is one expression of the wise use of the personal resources God has entrusted to us. Someone who makes a planned gift to the church has elevated the church to the same importance as family. It is both scriptural and in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer. Church of the Advent is blessed to have a number of parishioners who have already recognized the Church in their estate planning documents.  

In September, 2021, the Vestry adopted a Gift Acceptance Policy and an Endowment Policy as the basis of a Planned Giving program at Church of the Advent. The Gift Acceptance Policy outlines the types of assets that can be accepted, timing of receiving gifts, and the disposition of all gifts to the Church. It also outlines steps for maintaining discipline in gift acceptance and administration.  

The Endowment Policy outlined the formal creation of an Endowment Fund and the terms and conditions on which it is managed to support the mission and ministry of the Church of the Advent. The policy also outlined the responsibilities of the vestry and specified the creation and composition of a subcommittee of the Finance Committee, the Endowment Committee, which will manage planned giving and our endowment. Finally, the Endowment Policy outlined policies for management and investment of the Endowment Fund, personnel, reporting, and more. The creation of these policies was recommended by the Diocese of New Jersey and the Episcopal Church Foundation. Hard copies of both policies can be obtained from the church office.  

Although many people simply choose to make a bequest in their will, the Episcopal Church Foundation provides excellent information and tools on the variety of different ways you can plan to give to the Church, including immediate, deferred or life income gifts.  

• Immediate Gifts include gifts of cash, appreciated securities, real estate, personal property, retirement assets, and gifts of life insurance.  
• Deferred Gifts include wills and bequests.  
• Life Income Gifts include a pooled income fund, charitable gift.annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and gifts of real estate with life estate reserved. 

More information on the types of gifts are described on the website of the Episcopal Church Foundation, www.episcopalgifts.org. It is important that you seek advice from a trusted attorney and/or financial advisor so you use the best option for your unique situation.  

Planned Giving brochures are available in the back of the worship area. They provide tips on writing your will and also more detail on planned giving approaches. Members of the Endowment Subcommittee will be happy to direct you to resources you may need. Please keep in mind that we are lay people and are not qualified to give you financial or legal advice.  

The Episcopal Church Foundation explains that gift planning is sometimes called the “How” of giving. It naturally follows the “Why” or the reason you want to give to the church in the first place. We all have our own personal reasons for wanting to make a planned gift to support the mission and ministry of our church.