Investing with Faith / Joanna Feltz

Planned Giving 101: Planning for the New Year

Welcome to 2017! The end of the year is always a good time to take stock. Now that we’re officially in the New Year, I know I am thinking of how to put my 2016 reflections into action.

As stewards of our Catholic faith, we celebrate the sacraments, share the word of God and fulfill the ministry of charity by helping the Church through its parishes, schools and agencies.

We can act out our faith regularly through these channels or volunteering, but sometimes, financial support is the best way to provide for the present and advocate for the future. As we kick off 2017, consider where planned giving may fit into your plans.

Planned giving provides a unique opportunity to both the donor and the ministry receiving the support. Donors are offered a variety of ways to give, and are able to designate where and how their gift is to be used. Ministries receive the financial support they need for their mission today, while securing their future, thanks to the faith of donors. With planned giving, the Church will continue to be able to guide and meet the spiritual needs of humanity for generations.

As part of my job, I get a lot of questions about planned giving, especially, “What is it?”

Planned giving lays the groundwork for a donor’s personal legacy of faith by enabling them to support a Catholic parish, school or ministry they are passionate about.

A planned gift can be made over the course of a donor’s lifetime, or at time of death by utilizing some or all of the following strategies: the permanent charitable IRA rollover, charitable gift annuities, life insurance, retirement accounts, bequest through a will or revocable trust, charitable gift annuities, gifts of stock, and gifts of real estate. I will explore these strategies more in upcoming columns.

The best part of planned giving is that a contribution of any amount, over any length of time, will make a difference.

Through the archdiocesan Catholic Community Foundation (CCF), you can discover gifting options and find Catholic ministries to support.

The ministry of charity takes many forms, and we encourage you to consider planned giving as part of your 2017 charitable goals. From supporting an endowment that provides scholarships to Catholic schools, to giving much-needed financial aid to local or international missionary groups, your gift will positively impact a person’s life and the future of the Church.

Interested? Have questions? The Catholic Community Foundation is here to help! Reach me by e-mail at jfeltz@archindy.org or by phone at 1-800-382-9836, ext. 1482, or 317-236-1482.

Consider investing in your faith through planned giving.
 

(Joanna Feltz is director of planned giving for the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. For more information about planned giving, log on to www.archindy.org/plannedgiving. Tax information or legal information provided herein is not intended as tax or legal advice and cannot be relied on to avoid statutory penalties. Always check with your legal, tax and financial advisors before implementing any gift plan.) †