Our legacy is our mark on the world. So, what is yours? Taking time to develop a plan today for your assets can help ensure that your life’s mission will continue to impact the world for years, decades — even generations to come. We all know life is uncertain and encourage you to start or update your plan today.

Benefits of planned giving

Peace – A good estate plan can increase your lifetime security and also help provide for your loved ones and the causes you value at the same time. Imagine passing away with no plan in place, leaving both an emotional burden and tax burden for those you care about the most.

Provision – Give loved ones property you have acquired in the right way, at the right time, with minimal cost.

Spiritual Legacy — An estate plan acknowledges God’s ownership of all. It helps prepare the next steward and ensures that your final act on earth is one of good stewardship.

We are blessed to have Sacred Heart School as an invaluable ministry of our St. Vincent de Paul Parish. At present, 56% of our parish budget supports the school and 44% of our parish budget supports other important ministries. We are grateful for the work of the Sacred Heart Foundation assisting us in raising additional funds for our school.

If any of the following legacy gift ideas resonate with you, we invite you to contact your trusted advisors to see if these planned giving methods are right for you. To speak about your planned gift to Saint Vincent de Paul Parish or the Sacred Heart Foundation please contact Liz Van Leer in the business office at (660) 827-2311 to discuss further.

Types of Legacy Gifts

Ways to make a gift now

Appreciated Securities (or other assets):  Gifts of this nature are usually in the form of common stock or mutual funds, and enable you to receive tax benefits. SVdP Parish and the SHS Foundation also accept other appreciated assets, but it is important to discuss these gifts in advance.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD’s) - IRA Accounts:  If you are 70½ or older, you can make an annual tax-free distribution from your IRA directly to a charity.

Real Estate:  Real estate may be deeded outright to a charity or left by bequest while potentially providing the donor with an immediate tax deduction.

Life Insurance: Make a gift or buy a policy making the charity as the owner and beneficiary.

Ways to make a gift that pays income

Charitable Gift Annuity:  This is an irrevocable gift of cash or securities where you receive a predictable income for your life.  At your passing, the charity could receive the residual value of the annuity.

Charitable Remainder Trust: This is an irrevocable gift of assets into a charitable trust that provides you a fixed (annuity trust) or variable (unitrust) income for life or for a set term.  At the termination of the trust, the trust becomes a generous gift to the charity.

Charitable Lead Trust: This method seeks to provide generous annual support for a charity. It also removes assets from the estate and passes assets to heirs with little to no tax.

Ways to plan a gift now for the future

Bequest:  A bequest is a gift through your will or revocable trust that enables you to retain the asset during your life and provide significant support when you no longer require the asset.  You may choose a specific item, a percentage, or a residual bequest. You may also choose to make a charity a contingent beneficiary in the case the heirs are unable to receive the estate.

Retirement Plan Assets: In some cases, retirement assets can be the heaviest assets taxed in an estate. Naming a charity as a beneficiary can avoid that taxation, enabling those assets to pass tax-free.  You may also designate a charity as a percentage beneficiary or a contingent beneficiary of a retirement plan.

Bank or Investment Account:  Financial accounts can be a simple and inexpensive way to leave a legacy gift for a charity.