In most churches our education on giving is limited to two areas: 1) Financial giving and 2) using our talents. We talk of stewardship and that everything belongs to God, but I have heard few lessons that give practical examples of how to be a good steward. Here are a few examples of alternatives to writing a check, that demonstrate good stewardship.
1. Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. This law which was passed on October 3rd and allows individual s 70 1/2 and older to have their IRA withdrawals transferred directly to a charitable organization (or church) with no tax penalty. By using this method it allows a Christian to give 25% to 30% more by avoiding tax penalties.
2. Appreciated Assets. ANY appreciated asset (land, stocks, personal property) that is transferred directly to a charity avoids the capital gains tax. While not many of us want to move stocks or investments right now, a donation of land that has appreciated value allows the donor to avoid capital gains.
3. Estate planning. There are so many ways that Christians can give to God through their estate. There areCharitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Gift Annuities and other estate planning options. The real beauty of wise estate planning is that you can actually give more to your family and the church while avoiding giving that money to Uncle Sam.
If this information is helpful to you, or you would like to learn more about how you can help your church or favorite charity, please feel free to contact me via email or phone and I will be happy to help you with the specifics.
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