Bequests

What Is a Bequest?

A bequest is simply a gift you make as part of your will or a trust. The gift can be to a person, to a beloved ministry or any other charity you’d like to support. Bequests are generally the easiest way to pass along money, property or other assets, after you’re called home to Heaven.

Making a bequest to a Lutheran ministry

If you feel called to leave a gift to your congregation, LCMS school, or another ministry, a bequest is often the simplest way to make that gift.

To make a bequest to an LCMS ministry, you’ll need to provide instructions in your will or trust on your exact wishes. You’ll also want to ensure that other documents, like the beneficiary designations on assets like your life insurance or retirement accounts, don’t contradict those wishes. If they do, they’ll often override the plans you outlined in your will.

Structuring a bequest

When planning to make a bequest to a Lutheran ministry, keep in mind that there are several ways to structure a bequest. You can gift specific assets, heirlooms or personal property to a specific individual or ministry, or dictate that your gifts be distributed out of a specific fund, such as a bank or savings account. Conversely, you may also dictate that gifts be paid out of your overall estate, or that your bequest be fulfilled only after all expenses, creditors claims and other debts have been paid for your estate.

Should bequests be a part of your estate plan?

Although the LCMS Foundation can’t draft a will for you, we can show you how to use bequests to leave generous gifts to your local congregation or other Lutheran ministries you support. We’ll help you evaluate the structure of your overall estate plan in a way that maximizes your gifts to family and to ministry, while also potentially helping you minimize taxes on your estate. In addition, if the simple process of making a bequest isn’t the best option for you, we have the expertise to help you use other estate planning tools to ensure your plans come to fruition.

To learn more about using bequests within your gift plan, contact the LCMS Foundation and request to speak with one of our gift planning counselors.

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 Janssen

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

What Is a Bequest?

Making a bequest to a Lutheran ministry

Structuring a bequest

Should bequests be a part of your estate plan?

Start Your Gift Plan Today!

My Ministry Should Start a Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials