For Individual Members | Gift Planning Process

Where to Begin?

At first blush, the gift planning process can appear complex and overwhelming. With the right tools and an expert partner, however, it doesn’t have to be. The LCMS Foundation has designed every facet of our simple, intuitive process with your comfort and convenience in mind.

Your dedicated gift planning counselor

If your LCMS congregation or ministry has a partnership with the Foundation, you already have access to a dedicated gift planning counselor. When working with a counselor, you can expect convenience, confidentiality and expert guidance at no charge. If your ministry doesn’t have an existing partnership, you can learn more about creating a partnership with the Foundation here.

But even if your ministry doesn’t have a partnership, as an LCMS individual, we’d still be honored to help you create a plan (there’s still no charge for our gift planner’s services). Contact us here and we’ll connect you to a counselor.

Learn About Gift Planning Options

Our four-step process

Our helpful gift planning process is called Lifetime Plan for Giving™. Divided into four steps, each step is designed to guide and educate you as you create your Christian estate and gift plan.

Discovery: With the help of an in-person or virtual visit and a useful, clear-cut workbook, your gift planning counselor gathers necessary information.
Design: Using information from the survey and visit, we provide multiple options to structure your gift plan. These designs should all align with your goals but may provide a range of benefits and approaches. Designs are explored and considered until we arrive at the right plan for you.
Summary: We create a complete, thorough explanatory document that explains the details of your gift plan for you, your loved ones and your advisors.
Implementation: The final step is to assist you with implementing the gift plan. We’ll make sure your beneficiary designations are updated and correct, and if needed, provide your attorney with all the information they need to prepare and review any necessary legal documents.

Testimonials

Your process provided us the means to shape a plan that is useful now and easily flexible for the future.

Mark & Kristine

Indianapolis, IN

As a pastor in the LCMS, my wife and I have always desired to be faithful stewards of God’s blessings. It was refreshing to work with the LCMS Foundation to see how we can make a substantial gift to the local congregation and seminary without impacting the inheritance to our children.

Pastor Nathan Janseen

Martinsville, IN

The process provided us with an easy to use form to compose a gift letter that models for our children continued ministry support after our passing as well as a personal faith statement that will be given to our children and their families upon our passing.

Cam & Janet Fuerniss

Loveland, CO

We are thankful that we can leave a bequest to our children, and also through the Foundation’s work, make a gift to all the congregations we have served, our Concordias, and an agency we are passionate about.

Edward & Janet Krauss

Gift Planning Process

Where to Begin?

Your dedicated gift planning counselor

Our four-step process

Start Your Gift Plan Today

My Ministry Should Start a Program

Still Have Questions?

Testimonials

Contact Us