“Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16)

St. John’s Church is grateful for the contributions that parishioners and friends have made this year and in the past. When we reflect that all we have is evidence of God’s blessings—God’s gift to us—then our response will be to give back some of God’s own. As Christian stewards, our response is one of gratitude, and flowing from it, generosity. The question is not, “What does the church need?” but rather, “What do we need to give?” Instead of responding to a premise of scarcity, we are moved by the premise of abundance. Effective stewardship is driven by our desire to give, motivated by gratitude, and impelled by faith.

Giving is primarily a spiritual decision, reached after careful and prayerful thought. Giving reflects central parts of our spiritual life—about feeling and showing joyful thanksgiving for God’s grace. It is a glad offering of a portion of our wealth to doing God’s work.

There are several ways to make donations.

Gifts can be made in cash, by check, online, or through securities.

Plate offerings during a service are a time-honored way to give during a service. These offerings can be made with cash or a check made payable to “St. John’s Church.” Offerings made in honor or memory of a loved one or an event are welcomed.

Pledging is a decision to commit to a goal of giving a portion of our resources and sticking to it. A pledge is disciplined giving, a commitment with a purpose. It can be made by letter or email or online at any time, as well as through the annual pledge card mailed to all parishioners and friends in the fall. Those who pledge may receive offering envelopes by which they can give their donation spaced out over the year.

Capital giving helps meet expenditures that cannot be met through the regular annual parish budget. Major renovations and updates have been made to our church and Parish House during recent years and others are in the planning stages.

Planned giving refers to giving that is decided now but realized later. Typically, it is giving that is specified in a person’s will or through a trust contingent on a specified event. To frame the giving in the best way, contact the Parish Office as indicated below. In addition to gifts by cash and check, the planned giving section also discusses ways of giving appreciated securities, annuities, and distributions that can benefit both St. John’s and the donor.

The parish is listed as a 501(c)(3) institution under the US Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Please send any donations to:

St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square
1525 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

For more information, contact Preston Cherouny, Financial Assistant, in the Parish Office at (202) 347-8766, ext. 316.

1816 Society/Planned Giving

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)

For more than 200 years, St. John’s has stood as a beacon of Christian witness in our nation’s capital. During our 200th anniversary, celebrated in 2016, the Planned Giving Committee created the 1816 Society to celebrate those who have chosen to remember St. John’s in their financial planning. To become a member, simply let us know that you have named St. John’s in your estate or life insurance planning.

The Planned Giving program encourages planned gifts in support of the mission and ministry of St. John’s Church. The twin purposes of a formal planned giving program are set forth in The Book of Common Prayer, page 445:

1)  To encourage parishioners to protect their families by having a will.
2)  To encourage Christians to include the church in wills or estate plans.

Planned gifts may be bequests in wills, life-income gifts, or gifts of real estate and life insurance. Planned giving is an important ministry to our congregation and to the church.

If you have already named St. John’s in your estate planning documents or life insurance policies, please let us know by calling or emailing Preston Cherouny,  Financial Assistant, in the Parish Office at (202) 347-8766, ext. 316, so that we may add you to the 1816 Society. If you would like more information on planned giving opportunities, please email the Rev. Rob Fisher, Rector, or by calling at (202) 347-8766, ext. 302.  

Thank you for your consideration as we plan for St. John’s future—a future that, with your help, will be as glorious as its past.

Tax Information

The parish is listed as a 501(c)(3) institution under the US Internal Revenue Code. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Seeking advice from your financial consultant is always advisable.

Giving Securities. By making a gift of appreciated securities owned for more than 12 months, you can deduct the entire amount of your gift, which includes the original cost of the securities plus its appreciation. This way, you avoid paying a capital gains tax on its appreciation and the deduction is based on the value of the securities when transferred to the church, as well as deductible up to 30% of your adjusted gross income. Excess deductions can be carried over for up to five years. Cash gifts are deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income.

Receiving Income from Your Gift as well as a Tax Deduction. Many of our parishioners have asked how they can make a gift to St. John’s and reserve income for life for one or two people. You can choose between fixed or variable income payments (charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder trust). Besides receiving income, you will receive a charitable deduction for part of what you give. If you use appreciated securities or other assets, you may reduce your capital gains taxes.

Providing Income to St. John’s Church While Benefiting Your Loved Ones. Many of our parishioners have begun to think about retirement, estate planning, charities they want to support, and the transfer of wealth to their children. You can establish a gift that will provide income to the church for a number of years, with assets passing to your children in later years (charitable lead trust). This way, you reduce your income taxes and future gift taxes and avoid estate taxes on your original gift and its appreciation.

Making Gifts from Your Business. If you are an owner of a closely-held corporation, you can contribute stock in your company to the church and receive a tax deduction for the value of your gift.

Additional information on giving options can be found on the Episcopal Church Foundation’s website at www.episcopalgifts.org.

Stewardship Testimonials

“Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16)

St. John’s Church is grateful for the contributions that parishioners and friends have made this year and in the past. When we reflect that all we have is evidence of God’s blessings—God’s gift to us—then our response will be to give back some of God’s own. As Christian stewards, our response is one of gratitude, and flowing from it, generosity. The question is not, “What does the church need?” but rather, “What do we need to give?” Instead of responding to a premise of scarcity, we are moved by the premise of abundance. Effective stewardship is driven by our desire to give, motivated by gratitude, and impelled by faith.

Giving is primarily a spiritual decision, reached after careful and prayerful thought. Giving reflects central parts of our spiritual life—about feeling and showing joyful thanksgiving for God’s grace. It is a glad offering of a portion of our wealth to doing God’s work.

There are several ways to make donations.

Gifts can be made in cash, by check, online, or through securities.

Plate offerings during a service are a time-honored way to give during a service. These offerings can be made with PayPal, cash, or a check made payable to “St. John’s Church.” Offerings made in honor or memory of a loved one or an event are welcomed.

Pledging is a decision to commit to a goal of giving a portion of our resources and sticking to it. A pledge is disciplined giving, a commitment with a purpose. It can be made by letter or email or online at any time, as well as through the annual pledge card mailed to all parishioners and friends in the fall. Those who pledge may receive offering envelopes by which they can give their donation spaced out over the year.

Capital giving helps meet expenditures that cannot be met through the regular annual parish budget. Major renovations and updates have been made to our church and Parish House during recent years and others are in the planning stages.

Planned giving refers to giving that is decided now but realized later. Typically, it is giving that is specified in a person’s will or through a trust contingent on a specified event. To frame the giving in the best way, contact the Parish Office as indicated below. In addition to gifts by cash and check, the planned giving section also discusses ways of giving appreciated securities, annuities, and distributions that can benefit both St. John’s and the donor.

The parish is listed as a 501(c)(3) institution under the US Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Please send any donations to:

St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square
1525 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

For more information, contact Preston Cherouny, Financial Assistant, in the Parish Office at (202) 347-8766, ext. 316.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why give to St. John’s?

Giving to a church is an expression of your faith and your love and commitment to one or all of the ministries of St. John’s.  A gift to this church makes it possible for us to hold regular services, engage in pastoral care, serve our neighbors in need through our outreach ministries, and join together as a faith community.

What is a pledge?

A pledge is a declaration of your financial commitment for the ministries of St. John’s in 2023. While donations of all kinds help, a pledge gives us the ability to budget for the upcoming year.  We hope that all members of St. John’s will make a pledge of some amount.  (What does it mean to be a member, you ask?  Click here for more information on church membership!)

How do I make a pledge?

You can fill out a pledge form now by clicking on the button below.

What are the sources of income at St. John’s?

Pledges account for 43 percent of the current year’s operating budget. Our endowment, made possible by the generosity of members over many years, accounts for 41 percent. Plate offerings make up 8 percent with the remaining 8 percent from miscellaneous income. Because of the pandemic, both of those latter categories will be lower this year than planned and will certainly need to be reduced for 2021, depending on when we will be able to regather fully.

What does my pledge support?

Worship and music, including clergy salaries, account for 39 percent of the current year’s budget. Outreach is 11 percent. Program activities make up 13 percent and administration, 17 percent. Physical plant expenses, including maintenance of our historic buildings, is 20 percent.

How do I know how much money to pledge to St. John’s?

Parishioners must determine for themselves what their financial circumstances allow.  Historically, church leaders encouraged “tithing” a percentage of income—often suggested to be 10%.  Of course, in some cases this may be more than is affordable; in other cases, this is far too small a number.  At St. John’s, the median pledge is around $3,000, but we receive pledges as small as $100 for the year and as large as many times the median.  We understand that families face very different financial needs.  A mentor of our rector’s used to say “Give until it feels good!”  Whatever the amount you can afford, the important thing is to join together with your fellow members of St. John’s in support of all that we do together.

May I pledge with stock or securities?

Absolutely. For more information, please contact Preston Cherouny, St. John’s Financial Assistant, here or at 202-347-8766, ext 316.

Is a pledge binding?

Your pledge is a commitment on which St. John’s relies. We understand, however, that circumstances change, for better and for worse, without notice. We ask that if you need to adjust the amount you initially pledge, whether to decrease or to increase, that you contact Preston Cherouny here or at 202-347-8766, ext. 316.

Are gifts to St. John’s Church tax deductible?

The parish is listed as a 501(c)(3) institution under the US Internal Revenue Code. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Seeking advice from your financial consultant is always advisable.  Click here for more information on tax deductibility.

May I include St. John’s in my estate plan?

Yes, and we have established the 1816 Society to honor these gifts.  The Planned Giving program encourages planned gifts in support of the mission and ministry of St. John’s Church. The twin purposes of a formal planned giving program are set forth in The Book of Common Prayer, page 445:

1)  To encourage parishioners to protect their families by having a will.
2)  To encourage Christians to include the church in wills or estate plans.

For more information on Planned Giving, please visit this link.