I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, quality and freedom for their spirits.
– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Resources for Church Use

Here are some resources to assist your church with its planned giving program:

Brochures

• “Planned Giving Strategies” (PDF), a brochure published by the United Methodist Foundation of Northern Illinois Conference, Inc., 2005.  Describes various types of gifts that can be contributed outright or through one’s estate.  Contact us to request additional copies.

• Brochures on specific gift options.  The Foundation will make limited quantities available on these topics upon your request:
  • Bequests
    Charitable Gift Annuities
    Charitable Trusts
    Life Insurance Gifts
    Gifts of Real Estate
    Gifts of Securities
    Gifts of Retirement Accounts
• Brochures on estate planning topics.  The Foundation will make limited quantities available on request:
• Wills
  Living Trusts
  Power of Attorney
  Health Care Proxy
  Living Wills

Articles

• “Five Key Policies for Planned Giving Programs” (PDF)
• “Suggestions for Encouraging Planned Gifts” (PDF), Kim Warner, Texas Presbyterian Foundation

Other Resources

• Information for use in church bulletins or newsletters (PDF)
• General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church: Center for Christian Stewardship www.gbod.org/stewardship
• “Memorial and Honor Giving”, suggestions and best practices
• Resources for Churches, additional resources about church endowments