Planned Giving
What is a Planned Gift?
A planned gift is a major gift that requires forethought, as it comes from assets or from a will or estate. Many donors also work with a professional to help them with a planned gift. Some donors make a gift (or gifts) during their lifetime to benefit causes they care about now. Many find that making a gift in their will (also called a bequest) is the easiest way to support the future of the Catholic community for generations to come. The goal of planned giving is to help you plan your estate and charitable giving in a way that benefits you, your family, and the causes you care most about.
Who Can Make a Planned Gift?
Anyone can create a Catholic legacy for causes they care most about. The Catholic Foundation works with donors of all levels. You do not have to be wealthy to make a gift in your will. We are also blessed to work with donors who have greater assets and wealth, but who still want their legacy professionally managed. Lastly, we are happy to help Catholic philanthropists interested in making a substantial planned gift.
Why Consider Planned Giving?
We understand the stewardship and spirituality of our Catholic heritage. We understand and respect your desire to give back to the Church and provide a legacy of faith for future generations. You can support the future of the Catholic Church by making your plans now to benefit your parish and the Catholic community.
You can create your own Catholic legacy through a gift in your will. Even a small gift can be joined with others in a permanent endowment fund to make a substantial difference in our church in the years to come.
Planned gifts can help you achieve your financial goals by providing tax benefits and the potential for returned income. Many gifts also benefit your children by providing tax and financial benefits.
What Can I Give?
Planned gifts are generally made from outside of one’s discretionary income, enabling you to make a gift far greater than you thought you could. Gifts could come from appreciated assets, real estate, life insurance policies, or businesses. Learn more about the many types of assets you can use to make a planned gift.
Learn More
How Can I Give?
The easiest way for you to make a planned gift that will benefit the Catholic organizations you care most about is through a gift in your will. We have an online will planning tool, and a wills guide (including bequest language) that can help save you time and money. There are also many other online tools to help you in making a planned gift. Of course, our staff is happy to walk you through your plans and options at any time.
Other ways to make a planned gift include:
- Creating a fund now using cash, securities and other assets
- Creating a fund now, and completing it with a planned gift in your will
- Adding to an existing fund, with a planned gift in your will
Your Gift | Your Goal | How it Works | Benefits |
Will Bequest | Maintain control of assets during your life. Make a gift to benefit the endowment at your death. | Designate the endowment as a beneficiary of your estate through your will. You can leave a sum of money, specific property, or a percentage of your estate. | Simplest way to leave a legacy. Use and own the property during your life. Bequest is revocable before your death. Estate tax charitable deduction. |
Retirement | Continue receiving distributions during your life. Maintain control of assets during life. Make a gift to benefit the endowment at your death. | Designate the endowment as the primary or partial beneficiary of your retirement account. | Receive retirement plan distributions during life. Estate tax charitable deduction. No ordinary income tax on amount paid to endowment. |
Life Insurance | Make a signficant gift with less cash outlay. Reduce taxable estate. | For new policies: CFNGA is the owner of a policy on your life. You make gifts to CFNGA and CFNGA pays the premium on the policy. At your death, the life insurance proceeds are paid to the endowment. | Insurance is removed from your taxable estate. Income tax charitable deduction for donated premiums. |
Real Estate | Remain in home during life. Receive an estate or income tax charitable deduction. Make a gift of your home to benefit the endowment at your death. | Give your home to the endowment fund but retain the right to use the property during your life OR Leave your home to the endowment fund at your death through your will. | Estate or income tax charitable tax deduction. Use and own your home during your life. Proceeds from the sale go to the endowment fund. |
Charitable | Receive regular income for life or a term of years. Sell property without paying capital gains tax. Make a gift to benefit the endowment at your death (or after a term of years). | Transfer cash or property to fund the trust. Trust sells property tax free. Provides income for life (or a term of years). At your death (or end of term), the remainder goes to the endowment. | Income tax charitable tax deduction. Income for life or term of years. Avoid capital gains tax. Possible growth of income over time if structured as a unitrust. |
Charitable | Make a gift to your family in the future. Avoid gift or estate tax. Make a gift to the endowment over a fixed number of years. | Transfer cash/property to fund the trust. Trust pays a percentage to the endowment for a term of years. At the end of the term, the remainder goes to your family. | Gift or estate tax charitable deduction. Appreciation on assets passes to family without gift or estate tax. |
Getting Started
Donor Recognition Events
Our donors are models of faith and commitment in our Catholic community. They make a lasting difference in our archdiocese by generously supporting parishes, schools and ministries. In thanksgiving for our donors’ generosity, we honor them at donor recognition events. We also have giving societies for Catholics who have made legacy gifts.
Photo credit: Michael Alexander, The Georgia Bulletin
