And it’s true, the larger the gift, the more it needs to be planned out. Questions such as “Can I afford to make this sacrifice?” or “Will my gift be used wisely?” need to be thought through carefully.

So what does the term “planned giving” really mean?

A planned gift is one that typically offers tax advantages to the donor and offers future support to the Sisters of St. Benedict. It gives our friends the satisfaction of knowing that the love they have for our sisters and the people they serve will continue on even after God calls them home.

Many times planned gifts are funded with the assets someone owns rather than from income they receive. Assets are things like shares of stock or a piece of real estate.

Sometimes planned gifts are thought of as deferred gifts, meaning that the benefit to our sisters is deferred to a future time.

Here are some types of planned gifts:

• Charitable gift annuity
• A gift through one’s will or living trust (called a bequest)
• Securities (such as shares of stock or mutual fund)
• Life insurance
• Real estate
• Savings bonds

One of the benefits of making a planned gift is that our members are enrolled in our St. Hildegard Society, with its many spiritual benefits. Our society members find comfort in knowing that our sisters will perpetually remember them and their intentions in their daily prayers and Masses.

To request your copy of: “Tax and Financial Planning Techniques,” “Planning Your Bequest,” or “Personal Affairs Record,” please fill out this form: