CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR GIVING 

You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us. –– II Corinthians 9:11 

GIFTS OTHER THAN CASH 

WHAT ARE GIFTS OTHER THAN CASH?  Gifts other than cash include stocks, bonds, annuities, property, and other assets. 

WHAT ASSETS COULD I GIVE?  Appreciated assets held more than one year, such as publicly traded stocks, mutual funds, bonds, real estate, collectables, and other readily marketable property often provide tax advantages. Personal property such as automobiles, jewelry, and other items may also be given. There may be no capital gains tax benefits to these gifts, but the financial and spiritual benefits can be tremendous. 

WHY CONTRIBUTE GIFTS OTHER THAN CASH? The tax code is very generous toward this form of giving. Giving the asset directly to the church allows the church to sell the asset, thereby eliminating potential capital gains taxes to the donor. This also results in a larger gift to the church. 

HOW DOES THE TAX BENEFIT WORK? Itemized Deduction: The donor is allowed to include 100% of the market value of many of these assets as charitable contributions for tax purposes, if held more than one year. Because of its tax-exempt status, the church will receive the full market value, less transaction costs, at the time of sale without paying capital gains taxes. 

WHAT IF I SELL FIRST THEN GIVE THE CASH? You may be subject to capital gains taxes thereby reducing the after-tax proceeds from the sale. 

HOW DO I GIVE ASSETS, SUCH AS STOCKS, BONDS, AND MUTUAL FUNDS TO THE CHURCH? 

Asset Transfer Options 

Contact Jonathan Brereton. [email protected]

(312) 404-6693 He will provide you with the transfer instructions. 

Contact your broker and request the transfer.

 You will be provided with stock powers or transfer papers to complete the transfer. 

When you have completed the transfer, please notify Jonathan.

OTHER GIVING STRATEGIES 

CASH FLOW GIFTS Smaller gifts add up! By giving smaller amounts at higher frequencies--weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly--large gifts can be reached in smaller steps. Using electronic funds transfers can be beneficial when making these gifts. 

DIVERTED FUNDS GIFTS Freeing up funds that are currently going to other areas of spending allows a person to increase giving to God’s work. Diverting funds from entertainment, dining out, dues, subscriptions, gifts, allowances, or transportation offers lifestyle adjustments that impact one’s giving. 

DELAYED EXPENDITURES Postponing major expenditures such as automobiles, home projects, or trips provides substantial giving opportunities. 

INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS Interest income, payments from rental properties, or income from other assets provide a source for increased giving. 

SALE OF ASSETS Sale of major assets, such as a house, car, land, or business provides available income for giving. 

RAISES AND BONUSES Contributing raises and bonuses are also creative methods that can be used to increase giving. 

FREEDOM FROM DEBT Looking ahead to the next three years, you may discover that debt obligations will be fulfilled. This frees up revenue for additional giving. 

UNIQUE SKILLS INCOME Some people have marketable hobbies or skills that enable them to give from those new profits. 

CHARITABLE GIVING RESOURCES Reviewing all charitable donations in light of their impact on the Kingdom of God affords a potential resource for significant giving. 

SPECIAL TAX-FREE IRA GIFTS

For those aged 70 ½ and older, it is possible to make tax-favorable charitable gifts from IRA accounts. A total of up to $105,000 per year can be transferred directly from IRAs to one or more qualified charities, such as our church, free from federal income tax. There may also be state income tax savings. For who have begun taking their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), donations given in this way count toward their RMD for the year of the gift. To donate from an IRA, it is important to make the donation directly from the IRA to the church. For those with check writing privileges on their accounts, this may be the most efficient way to make gifts directly from an IRA. Contact the church office or your tax advisor for more information.

SAVINGS AND ANNUITIES Savings for special projects, retirement, or a “rainy day” may offer a resource for increased giving. We often realize that a portion of our savings may safely be given to the work of God’s Kingdom through our church. 

CORPORATE GIFTS Business owners may be able to provide gifts-in-kind that may result in a stronger gift to the church and tax benefits to the donor. 

A LOOK AT ONE FAMILY’S COMMITMENT TO INCREASED GIVING 

EQUAL SACRIFICE, NOT EQUAL GIVING

Equal giving is never the goal at Tree of Life, but rather that we all, as a church family, give together–– each one sacrificing to achieve God’s vision for all of us. Everyone at Tree of Life plays a role in this “For the Splendor of His Glory” Campaign, and each contribution, no matter how big or small, enables us to reach our goal. You won’t be pressured or told what you should give, but rather encouraged to pray to discern God’s will for your giving. If we all do that, then we are confident that God will lead each of us to give in a way that is personally meaningful and significant. So, we are asking everyone to pray the campaign prayer: 

Lord, what do You want to do through me? 

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. –– II Corinthians 9:7