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Planned Giving

What is Planned Giving ?

Planned Giving is a way to support The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury in the future through arrangements you make today utilizing a planned gift.

A Planned Gift is an expression of your and your family’s values and commitment to Christian Stewardship. It is a way of saying that after your family and loved ones, these are the causes that matter most, and providing for them is important to you. A gift from your estate to the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury strengthens our endowment and sustains God’s mission through the ministry of the Church – a lasting legacy and powerful response to God’s generosity.

Planned gifts are planned for during the donor’s lifetime but not realized by the beneficiary until the donor’s death. There are many other ways to plan a gift. There are gifts that pay you income during your lifetime and gifts that help reduce or avoid income and estate taxes. How you make your gift is important, but more important is the impact your planned gift will have on the causes that matter to you most.

This site is designed to make it easy for you to get the information you need when considering a planned gift. You will also find information to share with your financial advisor and/or estate planner. When you are ready, you can use this site to reach out to us to share your plans, let us know what you are considering, or just to start a confidential, no obligation conversation about what’s possible.

 

 What Matters Most

Your well-considered planned gift can make an impact on a specific area of need. Consider directing your planned gift to these core missions and ministries or directing your planned gift as an unrestricted gift to the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury. Click on any of the buttons for more information.

 
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Endowment

The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury’s endowment is professionally managed and invested in socially responsible funds. It allows us to put the gifts from our members — past and present — to work in perpetuity. The income generated by the endowment allows the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury to make a positive impact on its community and the world.

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Building Fund

The Building Fund is used to maintain and improve the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury and the parsonage. Donors like you have made gifts to this fund to ensure we have a place in the community to call home, and enable us to use our operating budget to support our missions and ministries.

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Music

Music is an essential part of our spiritual experience. Directing your gift to our music fund will help attract and retain talented musical directors and enable us to continue to put on inspirational musical programs.

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How to Give

As a donor, you have total discretion over your planned gift. You have options for how your planned gift will be used, what to give and how to give. There are planned gifts you can provide for in a Will or trust and planned gifts that provide income to you and/or a beneficiary for their lifetime.

 
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Gifts from your Will

BESQUESTS

Through a provision in your written and executed will or living trust, you can make a planned gift (or an outright gift as well) to the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury in the form of cash, securities, real estate or personal property. There are many types of bequests. Consult with your attorney to choose the one that best fits your needs and intentions.

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Gifts that Pay You

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES

You can turn underperforming or non-income producing assets (cash, stock, CDs, savings bonds, etc.) into a gift to the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury that provides income to you or you and a loved one. (One example of several available options is a Gift Annuity.) Your UCF Charitable Gift Annuity will return fixed, quarterly payments for life and provide tax benefits, too.

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Beneficiary Gifts

RETIREMENT ACCOUNSTS & OTHER FUNDS

You may name the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury as the beneficiary or one of the beneficiaries of a qualified retirement plan asset such as an IRA, 401(k), or 403 (b). This will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing a significant tax savings.

 
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Gifts of Appreciated Assets

BUY LOW. GIVE HIGH.

When you donate appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares instead of cash, the benefit the church receives exceeds the cost of the original securities purchased. You'll get a charitable deduction for the full amount of your gift and avoid the impact of the capital gains taxes on the appreciated securities.

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Gifts of Personal Property

Personal property, such as antiques, collectibles, musical instruments, works of art or vehicles, can be donated to us today or even after your lifetime through your estate. If the property is related to our mission, it's usually fully tax deductible based on its fair market value. In some cases, your gift of personal property can be used to fund a life income gift, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust.

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Gifts of Life Insurance

Name the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy; donate an existing, paid-up life insurance policy you no longer need; or purchase a new life insurance policy and name the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury as the owner and beneficiary.

 

Testimonials

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Richard and Jana Bertkau

When we moved to Martha’s Vineyard three years ago, we quickly found a second home at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury. The church community reached out to us with a warm welcome. We have experienced personal growth through sermons, book discussions, participating in mission outreach and sharing of faith journeys. There is a camaraderie within the church as the congregants work together on summer festivals, community suppers and the Christmas Faire. The worship services and the incredibly beautiful music programs continue to inspire us. This church embraces issues of social, environmental and racial justice to provide a safe, relevant space for addressing the pressing problems of our day. All this is available to us because generations before us supported the church. We would like to see this continue and so we have included the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury in our estate plan. We hope that future Islanders will come to the church, as we have, for spirituality, learning, comfort and peace.

 
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Let's Talk

Planning your estate and legacy for future generations, including your charitable interests, takes careful evaluation.

Discussing your charitable intentions with us can lead to a much better result than going it alone – and will ensure that your gift is used just as you wish. Act now to be a good steward of the resources you intend to leave behind. Contact us using the contact info below, or submit this form to get more information. Download Record of Planned Gift Intention Form