ELCA Foundation insights May 2021

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  year end gifts  
GIVE A GIFT OF REAL ESTATE
For many individuals and families, real estate is a cherished and much-utilized asset. Real estate can be a great way to make a gift to your congregation and the ministries that matter the most to you. Gifts of real estate can be daunting — they are usually large gifts of meaningful assets, and a donor may not even know where to begin the process. They can also be the most flexible and impactful gift a donor may ever make.

Real estate gifts can involve a personal residence, a vacation home, a farm, a commercial building or even undeveloped property. These estate gifts can be made upon death, through your will or trust, or during your lifetime, as an outright gift or a gift allowing for continued use of the property. Real estate gifts can be distributed directly to ministries of your choosing and/or used to establish named endowments, donor-advised funds or charitable remainder trusts.

The ELCA Foundation regional gift planners are available to answer any questions you may have on how a gift of real estate can benefit you and the ministries that mean the most to you!
Download
“At a Glance: Gift of Real Estate”
  Charitable Gift Annuity  
CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUST SPOTLIGHT: MIKE AND RITA HARTZOG’S LEGACY PLAN
Mike and Rita Hartzog wanted a legacy plan that would support the church but also ensure a steady source of income for their son. “Our son will turn 40 this year and has Down syndrome, and everything we’re doing is to make him comfortable,” shared Mike. Passionate about disability ministries, the Hartzogs want their estate gifts to enable their congregation, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Charleston, S.C., to better serve its members with disabilities. They also want to support ministries at the regional and national levels.

Stephanie Burke, a regional gift planner with the ELCA Foundation, introduced Mike and Rita to the concept of a charitable remainder trust, which they felt confident would provide a stream of income to both their son and those ministries they feel called to support. “We were looking at the bigger thing here, which was helping people after we’re gone,” said Mike. “We tithe to the church, and we want to make sure that our giving continues after we’re gone.” The ELCA Foundation also helped the family identify beneficiaries that best align with the intent of their gift.

“Stephanie took what could have been a complex and possibly expensive process and turned it into something we actually enjoyed doing,” added Mike. “We are now secure in knowing our gifts to the ELCA will be well-used in the manner we intend. We highly encourage church members to make use of their regional gift planner.”

Interested in exploring your planned-gift options? Contact your regional gift planner to discuss your next steps.
Find a Gift Planner
  Missionaries  
MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: ELCA WHERE NEEDED MOST
A single unrestricted gift can have widespread impact, empowering the ELCA to live out our mission to love and serve one another. Gifts to ELCA Where Needed Most serve our church and our neighbors in many ways. They sustain and develop missionaries, women leaders around the world and other global ministry partners. They strengthen congregations as they find new ways to reach people with the gospel and meet the needs of their communities. They help build a diverse, vital fellowship of Lutherans around the world. With your unrestricted gift to ELCA Where Needed Most, you are allowing the church to be adaptive and flexible in serving others in Christ’s name.
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FIRST-QUARTER MARKET SNAPSHOT: ENDOWMENT FUND POOLED TRUST — FUND A
To kick off 2021, the S&P 500 saw continued gains, the fourth consecutive quarter of strong returns following the one-year anniversary of the March 2020 lows. Equities rallied 6.2% on the quarter, following a quarter in which they gained 12.1%. Equities continued to rally as investors cheered the much-anticipated $1.9 trillion stimulus package and the continued vaccine distribution, as well as robust economic data and easy monetary policy. U.S. equities outperformed international market equities, both developed and emerging, in the first quarter.

During the first quarter of 2021, Fund A returned 3.13% net. The Modified Target benchmark returned 3.08% on the quarter. Fund A performed slightly ahead of the Modified Target benchmark return on the back of strong absolute returns from U.S. equities allocation. Download the quarterly report.

ABOUT THE ENDOWMENT FUND POOLED TRUST
— FUND A


Designed specifically for congregations, synods, seminaries and other affiliates of the ELCA, Fund A provides a socially responsible, collective, long-term investment option for endowments that support your ministry.
LEARN MORE
Meet your regional gift planner

Your regional gift planner is here to partner with you as you explore a variety of ways to love and serve our neighbors with your charitable giving. Regional gift planners provide expertise and guidance for individuals and congregations, without cost or obligation. It is our ministry to be of service. Schedule a meeting now!

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