Planned Giving
The Ultimate Gift
Planned giving, such as bequests and other gift provisions, can help each of us meet our personal, financial and estate planning goals, and they are vitally important to the future of St. Stephen’s. Designating a portion of your estate to St. Stephen’s in your will elevates the church to the level of family. We are deeply grateful for this love and care, which will make a lasting impact on St. Stephen’s future.
All members of the St. Stephen’s community are invited to consider a planned gift to St. Stephen’s as part of their giving journey. Every household among us is called to think deeply about how to live our faith and to believe that as we are given, we can give.
The Book of Common Prayer reminds us that it is our duty as Christians to have a will, to provide for the well-being of our families, our church and other charitable organizations. Careful estate planning will convey your final wishes for the distribution of your assets. Legacy gifts are something we all can consider. They allow us to support the church and the ministries we hold dear in significant and lasting ways after our death. They help ensure that the church will be strong for others when they need it, just as it is strong for us. Please take the opportunity to plan your legacy.
WAYS TO GIVE
- Bequest in a will, including sample language
- Gifts of stocks, bonds and personal property
- Structure annual gift through trusts and gift annuities
- Transfer existing IRA and/or life insurance proceeds
- Gift of real estate
- Structure annual gift through trusts and gift annuities
SHARING YOUR INTENT TO GIVE WITH ST. STEPHEN’S
If you are considering a planned gift to St. Stephen’s, such as through your will or estate, or have already made arrangements, please share your intentions with us now so that we may acknowledge you now and properly follow your wishes upon your death. Please use this Legacy Gift Letter of Intent to share your planned giving intentions with the church. If you have questions and/or wish to discuss your plans, contact The Rev. Lisa Hunt, Rector at 713-528-6665.
HONOR YOUR LIFE’S VALUES
On June 2, 2019, we kicked off our new Legacy Society for those who are including or are considering including St. Stephen’s Church or St. Stephen’s Endowment Fund in their estate plans. Planned gifts made to the church or the endowment have the power to protect the future of St. Stephen’s and ensure that our transformational work in the community continues. If you have any questions about the Legacy Society, please contact Hugo Banda at hbanda@ststephenshouston.org.
OTHER PLANNED GIFT RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOU
The Episcopal Church Foundation exists to support all Episcopal congregations and organizations by providing resources and guidance to individuals who wish to make planned gifts to their congregations and/or Episcopal organizations. Their website www.episcopalgifts.org contains a plethora of great information and resources.