We invite you to change lives where you find your strongest connections. We offer simple, innovative giving solutions that are tailored to your values, goals and personal financial circumstances.

Your gifts can include bequests, cash, stock, real estate, life insurance, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder or lead trusts with maximum tax advantages based on when and how you make your gifts.

You have the flexibility to give to both Bethlehem Lutheran Church and other charities and the freedom to change charities should your interests change. You can also decide when and how to make your gifts in order to take full advantage of tax benefits.

Please be sure to check with your accountant, tax attorney, or other tax advisor for additional information on how these general rules apply to your situation.

Please contact Janis Heier, Director of Administration at Bethlehem for more information (225-9740 ext. 14)

Bequests

• You can leave a specified dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or specific assets to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
• You maintain flexibility and control of your assets while living.

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Beneficiary Proceeds

The asset bypasses probate and goes directly to the church.

Your heirs do not pay income or estate taxes on assets designated for the church and/or charities of choice. The church or charities receives specific assets upon your death.

You can designate any portion of these assets to your church and can change this designation throughout your life.

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Gifts of Cash

Giving cash is the simplest way to give. If you itemize, you may qualify for a charitable deduction.

If the charitable deduction exceeds 50% of your adjusted gross income, you can carry the excess forward for up to five years.

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Gifts of Securities

Charitable gifts of appreciated securities, including mutual funds and bonds, may be used to establish or add to a charitable fund.

• You can transfer appreciated securities owned for more than one year to the church and/or charity of your choice and receive a charitable deduction for the average value of the security on the date the gift is made.
• You can claim a charitable deduction for the year in which the gift is made.
• If the charitable deduction exceeds 30% of your adjusted gross income, you can carry the excess forward for up to five years.
• Avoid capital gains taxes.

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Gifts of Real Estate

You can make outright gifts of real estate to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. If you've owned it more than one year, both you and the church can avoid paying capital gains taxes on the appreciation in value.

• The charitable deduction is equal to the fair market value of the property. A qualified appraisal is required.
• If the charitable deduction exceeds 30% of your adjusted gross income, you can carry the excess forward for up to five years.
• You can also give real estate via a bequest in your will or living trust.

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Gifts of Life Insurance

Life insurance often allows you to make a significantly larger charitable gift than might be possible using your current assets.

• By making the church the owner and beneficiary of the life insurance contract, you can take a deduction for the ongoing premium payments as you make them.
• Either cash or publicly traded securities may be used to make premium payments.

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Charitable Gift Annuities

A gift annuity is a simple written agreement that allows you to make a gift of cash and/or securities to Bethlehem and receive guaranteed payments for life and a charitable deduction.

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Charitable Reminder Trusts

With charitable remainder trusts, your gift assets are used to create a trust that makes regular payments to you. These payments can be made for your lifetime, for a fixed term of up to 20 years, or a combination. At the end of the trust, the remainder benefits charity. You receive a charitable deduction for a portion of the gift. With gifts of appreciated securities and real estate, you can bypass capital gains.

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Charitable Lead Trusts

With charitable lead trusts, your gift assets are used to create a trust that makes regular payments to the church or charity for your lifetime, a fixed term or combination of the two.  At the end of the trust, the remaining funds go to the beneficiary designated in your trust.  You receive a charitable deduction for a portion of the gift.

Please contact Janis Heier, Director of Administration at Bethlehem for more information (225-9740 ext. 14)