Whether you’re planning your first charitable gift or updating an existing estate plan, this season brings fresh opportunities to align your giving with what matters most to you. In this issue, we’re offering practical tips for every life stage, insights on maintaining up-to-date estate documents, and guidance on giving smarter through tools like stock gifts and IRAs. These resources are designed to help you make confident, value-driven decisions — both now and for the future. Wherever you are in your giving journey, I’m here to support you with tools, expertise and a shared commitment to growing ministry together.
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| SMART TIPS FOR GIVING ACROSS THE DECADES |
| Wondering how to give wisely at every stage of life? This quick guide from offers smart, age-based tips to help you align your generosity with your values—now and for the future. |
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| KEEP YOUR ESTATE SAFE AND UP TO DATE |
| Estate planning documents don’t come with expiration dates, so it’s easy to forget when they need attention. In this article, we break down everything you should know about maintaining and updating these documents to help keep them aligned with your goals. |
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| NOW ACCEPTING STOCK GIFTS VIA CHARLES SCHWAB |
We are happy to share that we’ve transferred our brokerage account to Charles Schwab. This move allows us to better serve you by doing more to make your money go further. With this new setup, there are no fees on stock transfers and significantly reduced fees on other transactions, helping to keep more of your gift directed where you want it to go. If you're planning to give a gift of stock through the ELCA Foundation, please contact us to receive detailed instructions. We're happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions you have.
Want to learn more about giving a gift of stock? It’s a smart and meaningful way to support your favorite ELCA ministries that can offer tax benefits – while making a lasting difference. |
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| INHERITED IRAS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR 2025 AND BEYOND |
The IRS has finally cleared up confusion around inherited IRAs: if you’re a non-spouse beneficiary and the original account holder had started taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), you’ll likely need to take annual withdrawals too — on top of emptying the account within 10 years. Penalties are waived for now, but that changes in 2025. See how this might affect your retirement or estate plans.
The ELCA Foundation can help you explore whether making a charitable gift through your IRA is a good fit for your goals, especially in light of these changes. Visit our website or connect with a regional gift planner to access helpful tools and guidance.
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I'M HERE TO HELP
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| MORE INFORMATION |
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FIRST QUARTER 2025 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 Hamilton Lane, investment manager for private market 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: LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA |
The ELCA Foundation is proud to spotlight Lutheran Services in America (LSA), a national network of 300 Lutheran health and human service organizations with a mission to cultivate caring communities that advance health and opportunity for all. Rooted in a long-standing Lutheran faith tradition of service in caring for our neighbor, the network works to improve outcomes for children, youth and families, improves independence and choice for older adults, champions meaningful services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and strengthens stability and purpose for veterans and others. Lutheran Services in America brings together a network of leaders, partners and funders to catalyze innovation, strengthen organizational capacity and advance public policy.
The suspension of federal funding has created significant challenges for many Lutheran social ministries, particularly those that support older adults, children and families. Your gift can help ensure these services continue. By lifting up our neighbors, we honor a Lutheran legacy of purpose, compassion and enduring hope.
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| Thank you to those who have already established a planned gift to benefit the LSA network. 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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