A new year brings new possibilities, and I’m excited for what’s ahead, both for you and for the ELCA Foundation. As we continue to grow and expand our ability to serve ELCA members and ministries, we’re here to help you make the most of your generosity.
With tax season here, now is a great time to explore smart, tax-advantaged ways to support the ministries you love. In this newsletter, you’ll find creative giving strategies that can maximize your impact while offering meaningful financial benefits.
Finally, as we navigate a changing landscape — including a new U.S. president and evolving regulations — you don’t have to figure it out alone. I’m here to help! Let’s talk about how you can align your generosity with your financial goals. Reach out anytime — I’d love to connect.
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| TAX-SAVVY WAYS TO SUPPORT MINISTRY |
Gifts of non-cash assets and other tax-advantaged giving strategies can maximize your impact on the ELCA ministries you care about while offering significant financial benefits. Here are some options to discuss with your CPA or other allied professionals in the coming weeks:
- Appreciated Securities: Donating appreciated securities, especially with markets at an all-time high, can help you avoid capital gains taxes, provide an income tax deduction, and help with rebalancing your investment portfolio – advantages that, in combination, a cash donation cannot offer. Use our calculator to explore your potential savings.
- Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): If you’re 70½ or older, you can give directly from your traditional IRA to charity, reducing your taxable income while supporting ministry. A QCD gift may also help reduce your Medicare premiums.
- Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) : Simplify your giving by contributing to a DAF. You’ll receive an immediate tax deduction while supporting multiple organizations over time. A DAF is also an excellent way to involved family members in your philanthropy and express shared values.
- Real Estate: Donating property can be a highly impactful way to give, often eliminating capital gains taxes and providing a substantial charitable deduction.
- Beneficiary Designations: Naming an ELCA ministry as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy or retirement plan is an easy way to leave a lasting legacy.
- Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs): These trusts allow you to receive income during your lifetime while leaving the remainder to the ministries you love.
Align your financial goals with your giving goals while enjoying powerful tax advantages. Your regional gift planner is ready to help you maximize your generosity and create a lasting impact. |
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| PURGE YOUR PILES OF PAPER |
| Ready to tackle those piles of paper cluttering your space? Organizing your financial and legacy planning documents can bring clarity, peace of mind, and a renewed sense of purpose. |
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WISHING CINDY HALVERSON AND
TIM URNESS A JOYFUL RETIREMENT |
We extend our deepest gratitude and warmest congratulations to Cindy Halverson and Tim Urness, regional gift planners for the ELCA Foundation, on their well-earned retirements. Throughout their years of service with the Foundation, Cindy and Tim have been dedicated partners to donors and ministries alike, helping to transform generosity into lasting impact. Their expertise, compassion and unwavering commitment have guided individuals and organizations in creating meaningful gifts that will sustain ministry and mission for years to come.
As they step into this new chapter, we give thanks for the lives they’ve touched and the legacy they leave behind. The seeds they have planted through their work will continue to bear fruit, strengthening the church and its mission in ways beyond measure. Cindy and Tim, we are profoundly grateful for your service, and we pray for joy, rest and new adventures in the journey ahead. Congratulations! |
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I'M HERE TO HELP
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| MORE INFORMATION |
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QUARTER 4, 2024 INVESTOR CALL RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
Did you miss our latest investor call? We invite you to watch the recording to learn more about the recent performance of the Ministry Growth Fund. Hear from representatives of Fund Evaluation Group, the ELCA Foundation’s investment consultant, and from Portico, the investment manager for publicly traded funds within the Ministry Growth Fund.
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| About the Ministry Growth Fund |
| Designed specifically for congregations, synods, seminaries and other affiliates of the ELCA, the Ministry Growth Fund is a long-term, stable and socially responsible endowment fund that provides distributions to grow ministry, now and well into the future. Individuals may participate in the fund by opening a named endowment or donor-advised fund. Learn more.
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| MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: GLOBAL REFUGE |
The ELCA Foundation is a proud partner of Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. For 85 years, Global Refuge has been living out Christ’s call to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35), ensuring that those seeking safety and opportunity find refuge and support. Global Refuge has shared that a recent order from the federal government has suspended funding that allows it to serve nearly 6,000 newly arrived refugees, who rely on Global Refuge for such essentials as housing, food, healthcare and education. Your immediate gift can help uphold this sacred call, ensuring that these vulnerable individuals continue to receive the care and support they need.
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| Thank you to those who have already established a planned gift to benefit Global Refuge. If you'd like to explore ways to maximize your impact today or in the future, please contact your regional gift planner.
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© Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4101
800-638-3522 |
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