Include a statement of faith in your will or trust.

A Christian Preamble is a way for you to begin your will or trust with a simple, personal statement of faith. It is a lasting opportunity to proclaim your love of the Lord to family and friends.

When planning a will or trust, many people focus only on distributing their money, property and possesions. A Christian Preamble allow you to share your true wealth: your belief in Jesus Christ and His gift of everlasting life.

A Christian Preamble is:

• A source of comfort to mourning family and friends. They are reassured that their loved one died in faith, sure of God's promise of eternal life.
• A powerful message of love and encouragement, urging others to trust in Jesus Christ and strengthen their own faith.
• A public record of Christian love (when used with a will). Because a will is filed in probate court, a Christian Preamble becomes a public record.

You can write your own Christian Preamble. Perhaps you want to include favorite Bible verses. You can offer your final prayers for loved ones, mentioning them by name and encouraging them to grow in faith.

Contact a Gift Planning Counselor near you who will prepare a detailed outline of the statements you want to make in your Christian Preamble.

This outline will be helpful when you meet with your attorney, who can help you prepare and sign your will and/or trust agreement. Download a sample Christian Preamble.

What is an Endowment Fund?

An endowment fund is a gifting agreement between you and the Foundation where you designate the LCMS ministries to receive your gift over a period of time. The timing and the amount of the distribution can be tailored to meet your specific ministry goals. The fund is managed by the LCMS Foundation, which invests the funds and makes the distributions to the selected ministries

An endowment fund can be used by donors to “endow” their annual giving. For example, Mary gave approximately $2,000 a year to her local congregation. As part of her estate planning goals, Mary wants her church to continue to receive $2,000 annually even after her death. Working with her estate planning advisors and the Foundation, Mary created an endowment fund which will be funded with approximately $40,000 from her estate. Assuming an average 5% return, the endowment fund will distribute approximately $2,000 a year to Mary’s church. Mary used the endowment to make a meaningful and lasting gift to the Lord’s work!

Endowment funds are also great way to establish a memorial to a loved one or remember other special occasions. Because you choose the endowment name, you can even include the special name, occasion or purpose in the name of the fund.

These are only a few examples of how endowment funds can be used. Your Gift Planning Counselor can help you establish an endowment fund that accomplishes your ministry goals.

How does an Endowment Fund work?

An endowment fund provides long-term support to the specific ministries your chose. The specific terms of the endowment fund can be based on your ministry goals. For as little as $5,000, you can establish an endowment fund that makes distributions for a term of twenty years or less. For $25,000 or more, you can establish an endowment fund that will have the distributions continue indefinitely (a perpetual fund).

You can decide if you want income only distributed or if you would like principal distributed as well. You can establish an endowment fund today so that you can actually see how ministry is strengthened by the fund. Alternatively, you can establish the endowment fund agreement today but not provide the funding until your death (a testamentary endowment fund.)

Click here to view a sample Endowment Fund.

A Two-Fold Gift of Love

For Dr. Mark and Sue Schulz of Hartley, these words are more than just a favorite Bible verse. They are a way of life.

The Schulz Family - After graduating from Iowa State University in 1970, Dr. Schulz and wife Sue moved to Hartley to join Dr. Keith Weber at the Hartley Veterinary practice, now known as the Animal Medical Center. God had provided the perfect opportunity for them to build a successful business while raising their family in the heartland of America.

The Schulz family now includes three grown children, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. Chris is an elementary school principal and lives in Denison with his wife, Kami, and their two children, Kyler and Kiana. Son Todd entered the medical field as an optometrist and lives in Ankeny with his wife, Melissa. Daughter Sarah enjoys the warmer climate of Austin, Texas where she is employed as assistant director of Fitness and Wellness at the University of Texas.

After 36 years of veterinary medicine Dr. Schulz is planning to retire in May. Mark and Sue will have more time for leisure activities and playing with the grandkids! Giving Back to the Lord - Mark and Sue are quick to give God credit for His abundant blessings in their lives. They know their faith in God has made a difference in raising their family. Mark explains, "Dr. James Dobson says it best in his book, Life on the Edge, 'At the end of your life there are only three things that really matter: 1) Who you loved, 2) Who loved you, and 3) What have you done for the Lord.'"

Mark and Sue enjoy giving their time to the Lord as active members at St. Paul, Hartley. Both enjoy singing in the choir and Mark looks forward to doing more volunteer and service work in his retirement.

Giving their time and resources seems to come naturally to them, but Mark insists it is something they have learned over the years. "Donating to others is a maturing process," he explains. "I now realize that sharing with others is a wonderful blessing in itself and brings us so much joy."

Planning for the Future

By giving his time to the church's Endowment Fund Committee, Mark helped establish a means for others to give to the Lord through their estate planning. As Mark worked with Pastor David Ericksen and the Committee on this project, he and Sue began to consider their own estate plans.

They met Gift Planning Counselor Jim Schroeder on one of his visits to St. Paul. It was a gradual process that took several years before Mark and Sue knew what they wanted to accomplish. They wanted to provide a benefit for their children, as well as teach them how to give back to the Lord by giving to others. So they turned to Jim for advice.

Planning for Tax Deferred Assets

Like many couples today, the main focus for Mark and Sue in their planning was on their tax deferred assets. These assets are meant by the government for retirement income and are a challenge to pass on to family without losing a large portion in taxes. They worked with Schroeder and their attorney to implement a plan that has a portion of their tax deferred assets going into a Family Gift Fund. Their children will decide which charities receive annual gifts from this fund. This provided an opportunity for their children to grow in their joy of giving.

The remaining tax deferred assets went into a charitable trust with the LCMS Foundation. This helped them accomplish their two goals: 1) to provide an income stream for their children for 20 years and 2) to provide a gift of the trust principal for their favorite ministries at the end of the 20-year income period.

Mark and Sue are happy to have an estate plan that reflects their Christian faith and look forward to meeting with Jim periodically to review any changes that may occur over time.

Loving the Lord with All Your Heart

As they enter a new chapter in their lives, Mark and Sue know some things will change. One thing they know will never change is the love they have for the Lord. "I always tell my children as you go through life, whatever you do, keep checking back to see what's in God's Word," says Dr. Schulz. That's good advice for all of us.

How can I establish an Endowment Fund?

Before downloading an application, please visit our gift planning website and contact your nearest Gift Planning Counselor or The LCMS Foundation at 1-800-325-7912 for assistance in establishing your Endowment Fund. The LCMS Foundation does apply fees to invest and manage the Endowment Funds and help the fund grow providing you more opportunity to strengthen ministry. Information about these fees are included in the application.

Endowment Fund Application

Read the application and fee schedule thoroughly. Fill in the application and mail it, along with your gift, to:

Gift Processing - 2nd Floor
The LCMS Foundation
1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122

When the Foundation receives your gift and application, a letter will be sent to you containing important tax information and a draft of the agreement requiring your signature.

Please contact The LCMS Foundation at 1-800-325-7912 if you have any questions or concerns. If you want to use publicly traded securities as a gift, please contact The LCMS Foundation for further instructions.

What is a Family Gift Fund?

A Family Gift Fund is a descriptive name for an LCMS Foundation donor-advised fund. This is a form of endowment fund where you, or someone you choose, may offer advice as to when, how much, and to which charitable organization gifts should be made. A Family Gift Fund is a great gifting instrument if you are:

• Seeking continued involvement with ministry
• Looking for a simplified way to give to many different ministries or other charitable organizations
• Wanting to involve your family in the decision-making process of making gifts

You may select yourself or any member of your family to act as an advisor, but to eliminate confusion, only one individual may submit distribution requests to The LCMS Foundation. A Family Gift Fund is often a wise alternative to a private family foundation.

How does a Family Gift Fund work?

You can start your Family Gift Fund by signing a simple agreement and irrevocably funding it with as little as $10,000. Principal and earnings of the fund are available for ministry. As God lays special ministry needs on your heart, you can contact the LCMS Foundation to recommend the ministry and the amount of support that you would like provided.

Below is a set of frequently asked questions that donors like yourself ask The LCMS Foundation about Family Gift Funds.

Is The LCMS Foundation required to follow my recommendations?

No. Unlike a private foundation, you cannot control the fund. With a Family Gift Fund The LCMS Foundation must retain control of the fund.

How else is a Family Gift Fund different than a private or family foundation?

A Family Gift Fund is much easier to start and operate. Since it is not a separate entity there is no tax exempt status to obtain or tax returns to file. That is why an LCMS Foundation Family Gift Fund can be started with as little as $10,000 while some experts recommend a minimum of a million dollars or more to start a private foundation. Finally, there are less restrictive tax deduction rules for a gift to a Family Gift Fund because it is a gift to a public charity.

How do I make recommendations?

Recommendations can be submitted in writing to the LCMS Foundation.

What if I do not make any recommendations in a given year?

You are not required to make distribution recommendations. However, if the annual distribution from all Family Gift Funds held at the Foundation is less than 5 percent, the advisors on individual funds that distributed less than 5 percent will be contacted to make recommendations. The Foundation will distribute a minimum of 5 percent of the value of all Family Gift Funds held at the Foundation each year.

In the last several years, the Foundation has distributed between 10 and 20 percent annually from all its Family Gift Funds.

Can my family make recommendations?

In the agreement you can name yourself or others as the “advisor” - the person entitled to make distribution recommendations. You can name as many advisors as you like, however only one person can serve as advisor at a time.

What if an Advisor decides to no longer make recommendations?

An advisor can resign by sending written notice to the Foundation and the next advisor listed in the agreement will then take over.

Are there any restrictions with the recommendations?

The minimum amount that the Foundation will distribute from the fund is $250 per ministry. There is no maximum distribution. Distributions can be made from income and/or principal. All distributions must be made to tax-exempt public organizations. The Foundation will verify an organization’s tax-exempt status before a distribution is made. Distributions cannot be used to benefit you or your family in any way.

Can I make recommendations to non-Lutheran organizations?

Yes. At least 51 percent of the annual distributions from your fund must benefit an LCMS ministry listed in The Lutheran Annual. The Lutheran Annual is compiled by the LCMS Department of General Services and Office of Rosters and Statistics and lists over 10,000 ministries, including all LCMS congregations and schools, the boards and programs of Synod, the Concordia Universities and Seminaries, and recognized service organizations.

Will I get any reports regarding my fund?

You will get a written receipt for every contribution you make to the fund. The advisor will also be notified of each distribution and receive periodic account statements. The statement will describe each distribution, each contribution to the fund, the income realized by the fund during the year, and the ending value of the assets held by the fund as of the last day of the statement period.

Can I make additional contributions to the fund?

Yes, provided the funding asset is acceptable to the Foundation. Cash and publicly traded securities are always acceptable. You can also name your fund as a beneficiary in your will or other testamentary gifts.

Are there any costs or administrative fees charged to the fund?

There is no cost to establish your fund. The only cost that your fund will incur is a 1/12 of 1.1 percent amount that will be distributed monthly to support the work of the Foundation counseling and assisting others in using their blessings to further the Lord’s work. This amount is comparable to an administrative fee other entities may charge for a Family Gift Fund, but with an LCMS Foundation Family Gift Fund you have the satisfaction of knowing that it is being used to further the ministries of the LCMS.

How will the fund be invested?

The fund will be invested in the LCMS Foundation Standard Funds. The LCMS Foundation has established the Standard Funds with the assistance of its investment consultant. Performance and makeup of the Standard Funds are available upon request or by visiting the Foundation website at www.LCMSFoundation.org.

A Two-Fold Gift of Love

For Dr. Mark and Sue Schulz of Hartley, these words are more than just a favorite Bible verse. They are a way of life.

The Schulz Family - After graduating from Iowa State University in 1970, Dr. Schulz and wife Sue moved to Hartley to join Dr. Keith Weber at the Hartley Veterinary practice, now known as the Animal Medical Center. God had provided the perfect opportunity for them to build a successful business while raising their family in the heartland of America.

The Schulz family now includes three grown children, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. Chris is an elementary school principal and lives in Denison with his wife, Kami, and their two children, Kyler and Kiana. Son Todd entered the medical field as an optometrist and lives in Ankeny with his wife, Melissa. Daughter Sarah enjoys the warmer climate of Austin, Texas where she is employed as assistant director of Fitness and Wellness at the University of Texas.

After 36 years of veterinary medicine Dr. Schulz is planning to retire in May. Mark and Sue will have more time for leisure activities and playing with the grandkids! Giving Back to the Lord - Mark and Sue are quick to give God credit for His abundant blessings in their lives. They know their faith in God has made a difference in raising their family. Mark explains, "Dr. James Dobson says it best in his book, Life on the Edge, 'At the end of your life there are only three things that really matter: 1) Who you loved, 2) Who loved you, and 3) What have you done for the Lord.'"

Mark and Sue enjoy giving their time to the Lord as active members at St. Paul, Hartley. Both enjoy singing in the choir and Mark looks forward to doing more volunteer and service work in his retirement.

Giving their time and resources seems to come naturally to them, but Mark insists it is something they have learned over the years. "Donating to others is a maturing process," he explains. "I now realize that sharing with others is a wonderful blessing in itself and brings us so much joy."

Planning for the Future

By giving his time to the church's Endowment Fund Committee, Mark helped establish a means for others to give to the Lord through their estate planning. As Mark worked with Pastor David Ericksen and the Committee on this project, he and Sue began to consider their own estate plans.

They met Gift Planning Counselor Jim Schroeder on one of his visits to St. Paul. It was a gradual process that took several years before Mark and Sue knew what they wanted to accomplish. They wanted to provide a benefit for their children, as well as teach them how to give back to the Lord by giving to others. So they turned to Jim for advice.

Planning for Tax Deferred Assets

Like many couples today, the main focus for Mark and Sue in their planning was on their tax deferred assets. These assets are meant by the government for retirement income and are a challenge to pass on to family without losing a large portion in taxes. They worked with Schroeder and their attorney to implement a plan that has a portion of their tax deferred assets going into a Family Gift Fund. Their children will decide which charities receive annual gifts from this fund. This provided an opportunity for their children to grow in their joy of giving.

The remaining tax deferred assets went into a charitable trust with the LCMS Foundation. This helped them accomplish their two goals: 1) to provide an income stream for their children for 20 years and 2) to provide a gift of the trust principal for their favorite ministries at the end of the 20-year income period.

Mark and Sue are happy to have an estate plan that reflects their Christian faith and look forward to meeting with Jim periodically to review any changes that may occur over time.

Loving the Lord with All Your Heart

As they enter a new chapter in their lives, Mark and Sue know some things will change. One thing they know will never change is the love they have for the Lord. "I always tell my children as you go through life, whatever you do, keep checking back to see what's in God's Word," says Dr. Schulz. That's good advice for all of us.

How can I establish a Family Gift Fund?

Before downloading an application, please contact your nearest Gift Planning Counselor for assistance in establishing your Family Gift Fund. The LCMS Foundation does apply fees to invest and manage the Family Gift Fund and help the fund grow providing you more opportunity to strengthen ministry. Information about these fees are included in the application.

Family Gift Fund Application and Distribution Request Form

Distribution Request Form only

Read the application and fee schedule thoroughly. Fill in the application and mail it, along with your gift, to:

Gift Processing - 2nd Floor
The LCMS Foundation
1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122

When the Foundation receives your gift and application, a letter will be sent to you containing important tax information and a draft of the agreement requiring your signature.

Please contact The LCMS Foundation at 1-800-325-7912 if you have any questions or concerns. If you want to use publicly traded securities as a gift, please contact The LCMS Foundation for further instructions.

What is a Gift Annuity?

A Gift Annuity is a contract between The LCMS Foundation and the donor. The donor transfers property (cash or publicly traded securities) to The LCMS Foundation and the Foundation promises to pay the annuity for one life or two lives. A Gift Annuity may be established with as little as $5,000. Many people choose to use low yield stock because a Gift Annuity often pays more. The amount of the Gift Annuity payment is determined when the gift is established, based on the amount of the gift, and the age of the annuitants.

After the death of the annuitant(s), the remainder of the gift is given to the donor-designated LCMS ministry. A Gift Annuity may support an LCMS congregation, school, college, seminary, or any ministry listed in the Lutheran Annual.

How does a Gift Annuity work?

Example: John, 80, and his wife Mary, 75, want a Gift Annuity to provide them with regular payments and a way to support their favorite LCMS ministry after the Lord calls them home. They establish a Gift Annuity by sending a check for $5,000 to The LCMS Foundation.

Based on their ages, they know they will receive a Gift Annuity rate of 6.6 percent. That means they will receive annual annuity payments of $330 for their lifetimes. Since a portion of the Gift Annuity is a charitable contribution, the couple also gets an additional $1965 income tax deduction for the year they established the gift. And, they enjoy even more tax savings. A little more than half of their annual $330 payment, $204, is tax free.

After John's death, Mary will continue to receive her regular payments. After her death, the remaining balance on the couple's Gift Annuity will go to their favorite ministry.

In general, annuity payments and the amount that eventually goes to the designated ministry are based on life expectancy. If the Lord calls John and Mary home at the age of their life expectancy, about half of the couple's original $5000 goes to their designated ministry. If they die before their life expectancy age, a larger amount goes to the ministry. If they live beyond their life expectancy, the ministry receives less.

Visit our Gift Annuity Online Gift Calculator to see how a Gift Annuity can benefit both your family and ministry.

How have other Christians used Gift Annuities for family and ministry?

Click on a story to read about a true story of stewardship and how Gift Annuities are used to help strengthen the Kingdom of God.

"From Fearful Flight to Bountiful Blessing"

"There's Nothing like Winning Three Ways"

"Spreading the Word on Gift Annuities"

What is a Charitable Remainder Trust?

A Charitable Remainder Trust is a descriptive title for a trust that makes payments to you or your family and when the trust terminates, whatever is left in the trust (the remainder) is distributed as gifts to ministry. There are several types of trusts, but your stewardship goals and assets would determine the best type. A trust may be funded with cash, publicly traded securities, and/or real estate.

Two commonly used Charitable Remainder Trusts are the straight-pay, or Unitrust, and Annuity Trust.

• A Unitrust pays you a percentage of your choosing of the trust value each year. The percent generally is between 5 and 6.5 percent. The Foundation reinvests the assets to produce the payments for you and your family.
• An Annuity Trust differs from the Unitrust in that the income is a fixed percentage of the value of the assets at the time it is transferred and remains the same for the term of the trust

Establishing a Charitable Remainder Trust can be complicated and should start with contacting a Gift Planning Counselor near you or the Foundation.

How have other Christians used Charitable Remainder Trusts for family and ministry?

Click on a story to read about a true story of stewardship and how Charitable Remainder Trusts are used to help strengthen the Kingdom of God.

• "Memories of Concordia Result in Gift"
• "Leaving a Legacy to Benefit Many of God's People"
• "Mother's Coffee Cake Helps Lutheran Pastors"