“All things come of Thee, O Lord; and of Thine own have we given Thee.”

(1 Chronicles 29:14)

Planned giving means making a gift during your lifetime that will last beyond your lifetime.

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.

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.

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