Pledging and Ways to Give

The opportunities are endless for us to support the Forward in Faith campaign. With a little creativity and an intentional approach, God will show us how various resources can be invested in His work. The following are some creative ways you can be proactive with your giving.

1. Practice Priority Budgeting – Many families consider how priorities can be rearranged in their discretionary spending in order to give more to the Lord’s work (e.g. eating out, entertainment, services, new purchases, etc.).

2. Redirect Short-term Expenditures – Some families have temporary expenditures such as tuition, child care or a short-term loan. Once those obligations are satisfied, they maintain the expense in their budget but allocate the payment toward God’s work.

3. Increased Giving with Increased Income – People who expect periodic increases in their salary or earnings have often committed the full amount of the increase to the Lord.

4. Giving from Your Excess – Often, families save money over a period of time for a future project but have been led by the Holy Spirit to gift those funds toward a present need.

5. Commit Unexpected Cash or Gifts – Many people pray for a way to give beyond what they can presently afford. Be aware that a year-end bonus, special gift or an unexpected inheritance may be God’s way of enabling you to give.

6. Real Estate Property – Some real estate could be donated to the church as an offering. In doing so, you could obtain a tax deduction for fair market value while avoiding possible capital gains tax if you were to sell. Please note: the church board must first consider real estate donations before the church could accept it.

7. Personal Property – Some of us may be willing to gift our personal possessions, like precious metals, jewels/jewelry, valuable collections (e.g., coins, stamps, and baseball cards), art, and recreation vehicles. As above, not only would your gift be of value to the campaign, it would also provide you with a fair market value tax deduction.

8. Investment Securities – One may decide to gift appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other investment securities. This is a double benefit as the church obtains a valued liquid offering and you will receive a deduction for the fair market value of the security at the date of the gift. As well, you may avoid potential capital gains from the sale of that security.

9. Contributions from your IRA – Many people have amassed a sizeable IRA that may not be necessary for immediate use. If you are over 59 and 1/2, you may withdraw (a portion of) your contribution without paying any penalty and the amount given may help offset the taxable income portion of that withdrawal.

10. Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) – Some may want to gift the church with appreciated assets (real estate, securities) through a CRT. This type of trust allows you to receive lifetime income even though you’ve made a significant gift to your church. There also are significant tax advantages to this type of trust.

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