Ways to Give
to GLEF

Gifts to the Geneva Lutheran Endowment Fund (GLEF) can be made immediately or can take the form of a planned gift, a gift that is planned for some future date such as the donor’s date of death, maturity of some sort of investment, or some other future event. Such future or planned gifts are often referred to as LEGACY GIFTS, and such planned giving is typically planned for by amending a trust or will or by creating some sort of trust instrument that carries on the donor’s instructions after his/her/their passing. One beautiful feature of a legacy gift is that it never stops giving when gifted to the GLEF.

There are many forms that both a current or a planned or legacy gift can take. A gift of money is certainly the most common way a gift is delivered; however, there are other ways that current or legacy gift may be given, and the following include examples of other ways to make gifts:

• Marketable Securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. are often donated when the values have appreciated.  The full appreciated value of the securities may be tax deductible when gifting appreciated securities. *

• Real Property and/or Collectibles:  Gifts of real estate or collectibles are often given.  Much like the appreciated value of securities the full appreciated value of the collectible may be tax deductible.  *

• Bequests:  Simply naming the GLEF as beneficiary in one’s will and/or trust will convey a gift to the endowment at the passing of the donor.  *

• Life Insurance Beneficiary:  Naming the GLEF as a beneficiary of one’s life insurance policy is another way to leave a gift at one’s passing.

• IRA/401(k)/403(b)/Annuity/Retirement Account Beneficiary:  Naming the GLEF as beneficiary of one’s tax-deferred retirement account allows the endowment to receive the funds tax-exempt, unlike a family member or other natural person who receives taxable income. *

• Transfer of Death (“TOD”) Designation:  The GLEF could be named as a TOD beneficiary on a securities or brokerage account.

• Payable on Death (“POD”) Designation:  The GLEF could be named as POD beneficiary on certain bank accounts or CDs at a bank.

• Split Interest Trust:  The GLEF could be named as the “Lead” beneficiary or the “Remainderman” beneficiary of a split-interest trust.  *

If you have questions on how to set up a legacy gift using any of the strategies listed above, please contact a committee member or call the church office.  A committee member with expertise in that area will contact you with more information.