Legacy Giving

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Legacy or Planned Giving

While the annual pledge drive and other forms of giving provide for the annual operation of the church, a Legacy gift is put into a fund to be used by the Board of Trustees to ensure the continuing stability of our church home and its historic and emerging programs. Those funds may be used for major improvements and repairs to the building and grounds, to add to the sustaining endowment funds, or to ensure the survival of the church in difficult times.

What funds does the church have that exist for the long-term health of the church?

We Lift Up Our Hearts In Thanks
For the sun and the dawn
Which we did not create;
For the moon and the evening
Which we did not make;
For food which we plant
But cannot grow;
For friends and loved ones
We have not earned and cannot buy;
For this gathered company
Which welcomes us as we are,
from wherever we have come;
For all our free churches
That keep us human and
encourage us in our quest for
beauty, truth, and love;
For all things which come to us
As gifts of being from sources
beyond ourselves;
Gifts of life and love and friendship
We lift up our hearts in thanks this day.
-Richards M. Fewkes

Over its lifetime, People’s Church has established several funds for this purpose, through legacy bequests of its members:

  • The Perpetual Pledge Endowment Fund – provides a regular source of money to supplement annual operations.
  • The Community Service Outreach Endowment Fund – is a source of gifts to charitable and community service organizations outside of the church operations.
  • The Building Fund – maintains the church building and grounds, and moves us toward a zero carbon future.
  • The Palmer Fund – intended as a contingency fund for emergency needs, and in lean times.
  • The Minister’s Discretionary Fund – emergency support for individuals and families in times of need.
  • Designated Gifts – with the approval of the board of trustees, a gift can be made to support a program or ministry of the church that is especially meaningful to the donor, such as the religious education program, library, or audio-visual technology.

How can my Legacy gift be made?

  • You can name the church in your will or trust.
  • You can also make a Living Legacy contribution if you wish to see your generosity put into action while you are still living.
  • The church can be made a primary or contingent beneficiary for many kinds of accounts, such as:
    • Retirement assets
    • Individual stocks, bonds, or mutual funds
    • Commercial annuities
    • Life Insurance
    • Donor Advised Funds
    • Some bank accounts

Questions? Contact the church treasurer for more individual information about:

  • How to offer a potential gift.
  • Questions about gifts of more complicated assets.
  • Talk with us about the benefits and differences among various gift plans.
  • How to process, manage, and complete gifts.
  • Your financial planner, tax advisor, broker, or estate lawyer will be able to provide more information and assistance.
  • The following guide from the UUA is a good place to get started: https://plannedgiving.uua.org/estate-planning-starters-guide