Endowment Fund

An important question for many is how they can participate in the effort to carry out God’s will. There are many options depending upon the circumstances of the giver. Over the years, the HTLC Endowment Fund has primarily achieved its growth through traditional memorial gifts, bequests and gifts in honor of persons and special occasions. These have been the bedrock upon which the HTLC Endowment Fund has grown, for which we are most thankful. More recently, however, the HTLC Endowment Fund has been the recipient of certain special forms of gifts, such as planned gifts and gifts of appreciated assets, which add another dimension and have the potential to bring the HTLC Endowment Fund to a new level in its ability to help secure the future of HTLC, which we love so dearly.

Immediate Gifts
Gifts of cash or appreciated assets can be relatively straight forward. Unlike cash, however, appreciated assets, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, life insurance, and real-estate, offer tax advantages to the donor. For income tax purposes, deductions from income are determined by the current value of the asset rather than the original cost. In addition, the capital gains tax on the appreciation does not have to be included as income on your tax return.
 
Deferred Gifts
Deferred (or planned) gifts come in many forms; the most common of which may be through wills or estates. Other forms of planned gifts include making the HTLC Endowment Fund the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, a retirement plan, or a charitable annuity contract. Creating a charitable trust, providing the HTLC Endowment Fund with a lead gift or remainder after your family needs have been covered, is an attractive option. Many in the HTLC congregation have taken advantage of this special IRS sanctioned option. Are you thinking about your legacy? Give life to your future by considering a charitable unitrust. The charitable unitrust can be a powerful financial and estate planning tool. We call this the win-win planning arrangement. Your family will win because a charitable unitrust:
  • May increase the family income
  • Will help you avoid capital gains tax
  • Will offset taxable income
  • Will reduce the size of your taxable estate
  • Will provide for surviving loved ones
  • And most of all, it will give you the enjoyment and satisfaction of providing a meaningful gift to benefit HTLC ministries with your name(s) memorialized for the future.
If you wish to learn more about gifting options and what might be best for your needs, Thrivent Choice and the ELCA Foundation will be helpful resources as you consider your estate planning.