About the Calvary Lutheran Perham Mission Endowment Fund
The Calvary Lutheran Mission Endowment Fund provides an opportunity for a perpetual gift to be given to the mission of the church.
Purpose of the Fund
The fund is a means for the people of the church to fund the ministry to the community, region and world through a perpetual gift. The fund complements the ministry of Calvary Lutheran in Perham by encouraging good stewardship and extending ministry outreach and support. The fund encourages parishioners to give proportionately of our accumulated resources in life and death.
Management of the Fund
The fund is managed by the five member Endowment Fund Committee of Calvary Lutheran Church. Their actions are guided by the dictates of Scripture, written by-laws and policies of the fund.
Distribution of Fund Income
The purpose of the Endowment fund is to provide annual distributions beyond the operating budget of this congregation to ministry expression as stated below:
• Maximum of 20% for special projects within the local area wherein the congregation resides.
• Maximum of 20% for special ministries with the Northwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA.
• Maximum of 20% for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America church-wide ministries
• 40% distributed for extraordinary programs/ministry initiatives within this congregation
• Distributions are not intended for ordinary church operation or its building programs.
The Endowment Fund will begin making annual distributions once it reaches $50,000.00. Annual distributions may include interest and dividends received, realized gains and/or unrealized gains. Up to 5% of the account balance may be distributed in a calendar year.
How to Contribute to the Fund
One can contribute gifts of any size to the Calvary Lutheran Perham Mission Endowment Fund in any of the following ways:
• Memorials
• Estate Planning
• Insurance Beneficiary
• Appreciated Assets
• Retirement Plan Assets
• Gifts of Real Estate
• Cash Gifts
• Gifts of Stock***
***Gifts of Stock
A stock portfolio is often among the most valuable assets you own—and one that can carry substantial capital gain, or appreciation in value. With careful planning, you can reduce or even eliminate federal capital gains tax while supporting our work. Read on to see why donating stock can offer even more tax benefits than writing a check.
1. You give stocks.
2. You receive an income tax deduction.
3. Stocks are sold and Calvary Lutheran Church Endowment Fund receives the cash proceeds.
Stocks are considered to be appreciated for tax purposes if they're worth more now than when you purchased them.
How It Works. As stock prices increase, so do the taxes you owe on the long-term capital gain, which are generally charged at a rate of 15 percent (0 percent if you are in the 10 and 15 percent tax brackets) through 2012. But when you donate publicly traded stock you've owned for more than one year to a qualified charitable organization such as Calvary Lutheran Church, you enjoy two major tax benefits: You will be exempt from paying capital gains taxes on any increase in value—taxes you would pay if you had otherwise sold the securities. You are entitled to a federal income tax deduction based on the current fair market value of the securities, regardless of their original cost. The income tax deduction for long-term capital gain property is limited to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income in the year you make the gift, but your excess deduction is deductible for up to five additional years.
Example. Lucy wants to make a charitable gift of $10,000. She can make her gift with either cash or stock. She has a marginal federal income tax rate of 28 percent and is not subject to state or local income taxes. The stock's value is $10,000, with a cost basis of $4,000.
Gifts can be placed in envelopes specially marked for the fund and put in the offering plate or sent to: Calvary Lutheran Church Attention: Endowment Committee, 619 Third Avenue S.W. Perham, Minnesota 56573. For questions call the church office at (218) 346-4780.
In lieu of flowers...create a legacy in remembrance of your loved one.
A gift in lieu of flowers at the funeral of a loved one or friend is a most rewarding way to honor their memory. You may wish to consider a memorial to the Calvary Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund. A contribution in your loved one's memory will be designated to support ministry in our community, region and world through a perpetual gift. Gifts can be made payable to Calvary Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund and sent to the address below.
Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7