Planned giving |

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are many kinds of gifts that can be given and received. Gifts can be tangible or intangible, large or small, simple or complex, and everything in between. The gifts we give may be delivered with pizzazz for all to see, or stealthily without any public recognition. Our giving may take place at regular intervals throughout our lifetimes, or passed on after we die. Ultimately, most of us want our giving to make the world a better place.

Giving is a behavior or practice of making a choice to give a gift of money, time, possessions, talent, attention to others. Our giving is an expression of our deepest-held values and priorities, and at its best, a spiritual practice that benefits others and blesses the world. It is important to remember that our ability to give and making a positive difference does not require us to be of any particular age or in possession of great wealth. What is required is a spirit of generosity and a philanthropic mindset. There are a variety of means and tools available to help us with our giving in all its expressions.

Generosity is a state of being and mindset, with an inner awareness of having enough to share. Generosity offers a way of living in deep relationship with the world and its inhabitants and expressing gratitude for all that is received. Faith communities nurture generosity through religious teachings and opportunities for mission- and values-based giving.

Philanthropy derives from the Greek meaning “loving of humankind” and involves one’s actions and giving in support of humanitarian purposes. Similarly, Charity refers to love of humanity and benevolent goodwill toward others. Religious organizations and faith communities are uniquely positioned as venues for charitable giving.

Legacy Giving involves giving that is planned during one’s lifetime for the benefit of the people, causes, communities, and organizations beyond their lifetime. This is done through explicitly stating how one’s money, possessions, or property is to be distributed, such as making a bequest of dollar amounts or percentage of assets. Religious organizations and local congregations must make planned giving opportunities available to those who care deeply about sustaining their faith and their beloved community into the future.

What we do know from national giving data (USA Giving 2010) is that the majority of charitable dollars are given by individuals (81%), with bequests making up eight percent (8%) of total giving. The largest proportion of charitable dollars are given to religious organizations, but this share is decreasing with the dramatic increase of other secular and nonprofit organizations competing for financial support.

Mature Americans (age 55 years and older) account for nearly $7 trillion in the following financial categories:

-80% of all funds in savings,

-77% of America’s financial assets,

-70% of the net worth of all U.S. households

However, only forty percent (40%) of Americans have prepared wills and a mere six percent (6%) have included charitable bequests in their wills. Our elders whom make up what is known as the “silent” or “greatest generation” have amassed unprecedented wealth, with much of it held in real estate and retirement plans.

Currently, with the aging of the generations, we are experiencing the greatest transference of wealth ever seen, estimated at $41 trillion. This is the right time for all congregations and faith-based organizations to establish or strengthen their planned giving programs. These programs should be carefully structured and managed in keeping with recommended standards and best practices that honor the givers and their intent for their gifts. There are many planning tools available, and most religious organizations have current information, knowledgeable staff, and giving programs available to assist congregations and individual donors.

It is essential for congregations to nurture generosity inspired by and connected to the values and teachings of the faith, to actively encourage expression of gratitude through intentional giving, and to offer opportunities for the faithful to leave a legacy of benefit to their beloved community.

You can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.

~Evan Esar

For more information on charitable giving and planned giving programs:

The Unitarian Universalist Association’s Planned Giving Office: http://www.uua.org/giving/planned/index.shtml

For more information about Philanthropic Giving, the Donor Bill of Rights, and Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner:

The Association of Fundraising Professionals: http://www.afpnet.org/

Partnership for Philanthropic Planning: http://pppnet.org

The Sharpe Group: http://www.sharpenet.com/gt/pdfs/2012/may12.pdf

Generosity is grounded in a profound understanding that we all are in this together…It is only in fruitful alliances with others that we can do great things.

~ David Heenan & Warren Bennis

This is a day of remembering the lives of others who have lived, loved, served, and in some way touched our lives. Originally, Memorial Day was the day of honoring Union soldier of the American Civil War, but the holiday has expanded to include those who have died in military service to their country, as well as family, friends, and others whose deeds and lives have made a difference.

Leaving a legacy is a strong desire of many of us. We want our deeds and lives to matter, to our families, faith communities, and society at large. One way of doing this is through planned giving and making our intentions known well before reach the end of our lives. This is particularly important to those in the “Baby Boomer” generation, as part of retirement planning.

Leaders of faith communities and community organizations must create the programs to which individuals can leave a legacy contribution. There are a number of good planned giving resources available online and professionally trained staff to assist in most charitable and religious organizations.

To begin, it is helpful to be aware of the reasons that people make charitable donations, so that the right climate and mechanisms for giving can be established:

Awareness of need
People are asked to give
The giver cares deeply about the organization or cause and its mission
Benefits are experienced from giving–psychological, recognition, practical
Desire to make a difference, to leave a legacy
Gratitude for what the organization has brought to one’s life, to give back

I will be inviting planned giving colleagues to share their wisdom in future posts, but leave you with an invitation: to reflect deeply on the example of those who have touched your life through their generosity, to clarify for yourself what is most important to you, and consider ways that you can leave a legacy gift that will touch lives for years to come.

For a planned giving guide for congregations: http://www.uua.org/documents/stew-dev/plannedgivingguide.pdf