Planned giving programs are crucial to the long-term vitality of our work for God’s mission. Thus, they must be a part of every parish’s stewardship development plan. They hold enormous potential to help ensure that we will have the mission resources we need for generations to come. To our parishioners, they offer the opportunity to make a final affirmation of their Christian Faith and in the process remind us all that everything in this world belongs to God. Despite the fact that we are in the midst of the largest inter-generational transfer of wealth in U.S. history, fewer than one in ten persons leaves a gift to charity in their will or trust. Research shows why they have never considered it: They haven’t been asked. We need to change that trend in the Diocese of Georgia. We need to start asking our parishioners to remember their church in their estate planning process and to offer a simple and convenient vehicle for them to do so.
It is the goal to have an established planned giving program in every parish in the Diocese of Georgia. In order to assist parishes, below is a link to a user friendly guide to establishing a planned giving program as well as a set of sample required documents. Should you have questions about the manual or documents, or need assistance, please contact the Diocesan office at 912.236.4279 or at legacysociety@gaepiscopal.org.
NOTE: Neither the author, the publisher, nor the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia is engaged in legal or tax advisory service. For advice or assistance in specific cases or whether to make certain a contemplated gift fits well into your overall circumstances and planning, the services of an attorney or other professional advisor should be obtained.
Sample Planned Giving Documents
Parish Gift Acceptance Policy for Parish Guidelines Also available as a Word File
