As you consider your commitment, think creatively about how you can be generous.
Ask God to show you new ways to give.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING
INCOME & SACRIFICE (click to read)
Analyze your projected income and spending patterns for the next three years and determine how
much could be given and when. Alter your style of living in meaningful ways in order to give what you save or don’t spend.
• Income Stream Giving: Giving as you receive income—whether from your regular income, bonuses,
and/or through your personal business.
• Sacrifice: Changing your life or your lifestyle in order to create resources for giving not only frees
additional resources for giving but could also lead to a profound spiritual re-orientation and renewal.
• Delaying Expenditures: Expected purchases might be postponed so that those funds could be given.
• Freedom from Debt: Resources resulting once debts are paid can become a source for giving.
• Charitable Giving Review: Reviewing all of your charitable donations and comparing their impact with
the importance of your church’s project may encourage you to consolidate some of your giving into this
particular mission for a particular timeframe.
GIVING ASSETS (click to read)
What accumulated assets in your life could be given by transfer to the church? What income producing assets could be dedicated and donated? What assets could be sold so that their value could be
permanently invested in ministry?
• Income Producing Assets: Interest earned, income from rental properties or monies from other
income producing assets can be dedicated and donated.
• Giving Appreciated Assets: Transferring appreciated assets (stocks, real estate, etc.) can greatly enlarge
a gift and may provide tax benefits.
• Sale of Assets: Money resulting from the sale of personal assets, or from personally owned business
assets, could be donated.
• Savings & Investments: You may be able to give some portion of accumulated assets without
significantly affecting your future security. The “returns” from investing in ministry may be more
significant to you than simply accumulating more market returns.
TIME & TALENT (click to read)
Determine what you could do to earn extra resources that could be given during this period.
Are there “gifts in kind” of services and/or materials you could give?
• Additional Income: Using your skills and talents, taking on additional work or delaying retirement
could produce additional income to use as a gift.
• Gifts in Kind: Donating specific services and/or materials, either personally or through your business,
provides a unique opportunity for increased giving.
Seldom we are aware of all that we have to give. Here is an example of inventory and investment for one family's personal areas of giving.
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GIVING APPRECIATED ASSETS
If an investment—like stocks, real estate and other assets—has increased in value since its purchase and has been held for more than one year, then there may be significant tax advantages to transferring ownership of that asset to the church as a charitable donation. Giving the appreciated asset eliminates potential capital gains taxes for the donor while still allowing the donor to receive the contribution credit for the current market value of the asset. Because of its tax-exempt status, the church can sell the asset and receive full market value less transaction costs.
What if I sell first then give the cash?
You may have to pay capital gains taxes which will reduce the after-tax proceeds from the sale.
A LOOK AT ONE FAMILY'S COMMITMENT
| ACTIVITY |
WEEKLY |
YEARLY |
3 YEARS |
| Increased Cash Giving |
$50 |
$2,600 |
$7,200 |
| Eliminate one meal out per week |
$50 |
$2,600 |
$7,200 |
| Reduce Christmas budget |
|
$250 |
$750 |
| Reduce Vacation budget |
|
$250 |
$750 |
| Delay TV purchase for 3 years |
|
|
$1000 |
| Trudy reduces groceries budget |
$25 |
$1,300 |
$3,900 |
| Trudy gives Garage Sale income |
|
$400 |
$1,200 |
| Bill reduces golf outings |
|
$650 |
$1,950 |
| Aaron eliminates one soft drink a day |
$7 |
$365 |
$1,095 |
| Missy gives from income |
$10 |
$520 |
$1,560 |
| Family gift from Savings |
|
|
$2,500 |
| Faith Commitment |
|
|
$1,000 |
| TOTAL 3 YEAR COMMITMENT |
|
|
$30,105 |
*In addition, we will continue to support the annual stewardship budget.*
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