Wills – consider tithing to the Church or leaving a portion of your estate to the child you named “Charity.”

The primary planning tool for your estate is a will. This important legal document:

• Directs how your property and assets are to be disposed of at your death.
• In Missouri, it is the ONLY document in which you can designate a guardian and/or conservator for dependents.
• Preserves the integrity of your wishes, avoiding probate and the State deciding the division of your assets and/or the placement of your dependents.

It is essential to advise the Church of your intentions before your death to ensure the proper execution of your wishes. If you have questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carder at [email protected].

A charitable gift annuity provides annual income to one or two annuitants. This arrangement:

• Pays out annually for the life of the annuitant(s).
• The payment amount is based on the age of the annuitant(s) when the annuity is created.
• It is established with a minimum, irrevocable gift of $10,000.
• It ends with the death of the annuitant(s); the church is then paid the remainder.

All details of a charitable gift annuity in which UMCburg is the beneficiary is
coordinated through the Missouri United Methodist Foundation. Click here for more details Charitable Gift Annuity | Missouri United Methodist Foundation (mumf.org). If you have initial questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carder at [email protected]. Thank you!

A contribution of grain directly to the church allows the cash-basis farmer to:

• Avoid reporting the sale of grain as income
• Still include the cost of growing the grain in deductible expenses

When a farmer delivers grain to the elevator, a warehouse receipt showing the church as the owner should be executed. The church orders the sale of the grain, with the original sales invoice showing the church as the seller. The proceeds check is payable to the church.

Additional information is outlined on this link to the Missouri United Methodist Foundation Giving Grain | Missouri United Methodist Foundation (mumf.org).
Questions regarding the tax benefits of such a gift are deferred to the donor’s tax professional.
If you have questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carder at [email protected]. UMC Burg works closely with the Missouri United Methodist Foundation to ensure the proper execution of donors’ wishes and intents.

An effective way to remember the Church is as a beneficiary in a variety of estate planning tools. Instruments include:

• Wills
• Trusts
• Life insurance policies
• Retirement plans
• IRAs
• Bank accounts
• Brokerage accounts
• Tangible personal property
• Deeds of real property

It is essential to advise the Church of its beneficiary status before the instrument’s maturity to ensure proper execution of the donors’ wishes and intents. If you have questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carder at [email protected].

Gifts of tangible personal property can be an effective way to further God’s mission
through the Church. Before accepting such gifts, the Church will examine the gift in light of:

• Does the property fulfill the mission of the Church?
• Is the property marketable?
• Are there any undue restrictions on the use, display, or sale of the property?
• Are there any carrying costs for the property?

Before acceptance of the tangible personal property, the gift will be approved by the Church. Questions regarding the tax benefits of such a gift are deferred to the donor’s tax professional.

If you have questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carder at [email protected]. UMCburg works closely with the Missouri United Methodist Foundation to ensure the proper execution of donors’ wishes and intents.

Gifts of real estate may include developed or undeveloped property. Before acceptance of real estate, the Church shall require an initial environmental review of the property to ensure that the property has no environmental damage. If the initial inspection reveals a potential problem, the Church shall retain a qualified inspection firm to conduct an environmental audit. The environmental audit cost shall generally be an expense of the donor. When appropriate, a title search shall be obtained by the Church before accepting the real property gift; the cost of this title search shall generally be an expense of the donor. Criteria for approval of the property shall include:

• Does the property fulfill the mission of the Church?
• Is the property marketable?
• Are there any restrictions, reservations, easements, or other limitations associated with the property?
• Are there carrying costs associated with the property, including insurance, property taxes, mortgages, notes, etc.?
• Does the environmental audit reflect that the property is not damaged?
• What is the donor’s timeline for the transfer of the asset?

Before acceptance of the real estate, the gift will be approved by the Church and its legal counsel. Questions regarding the tax benefits of such a gift are deferred to the donor’s tax professional.

If you have questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carder at [email protected]. UMCburg works closely with the Missouri United Methodist Foundation to ensure the proper execution of donors’ wishes and intents.

The Church can accept both publicly-traded and closely-held securities.

Publicly-traded Securities: Marketable securities may be transferred to an account maintained by the Church at one or more brokerage firms, to the Missouri United Methodist Foundation for the benefit of the Church, or delivered physically to the Church with the transferor’s signature or stock power attached. Generally, all marketable securities shall be sold upon receipt unless otherwise directed by the Church. In some cases, marketable securities may be restricted by applicable securities laws. In such instances, the Church shall make the final determination on the acceptance of the restricted securities.

Closely-held Securities: Closely-held securities, which include not only debt and equity positions in non-publicly traded companies but also interests in LLPs and LLCs or other ownership forms, can be accepted subject to the approval of the Church. However, gifts must be reviewed before acceptance to determine that:

• There are no restrictions on security that would prevent the Church from ultimately converting those assets to cash
• The deposit is marketable, and
• The deposit will not generate any undesirable tax consequences for the Church

If potential problems arise on an initial review of the security, further review and recommendation by an outside professional may be sought before making a final decision on acceptance of the gift. The Church and legal counsel shall make the final determination on the acceptance of closely-held securities when necessary.

Every effort will be made to sell non-marketable securities as quickly as possible. Questions regarding the tax benefits of such a gift are deferred to the donor’s tax professional.

If you have questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carder at [email protected]. UMCburg works closely with the Missouri United Methodist Foundation to ensure the proper execution of donors’ wishes and intents.

The Church may accept oil, gas, and mineral property interests when appropriate. Before acceptance of an oil, gas, or mineral interest, the gift will be approved by the Church and, if necessary, by the Church’s legal counsel. Criteria for acceptance of the property will include:

• Gifts of surface rights should have a value of $20,000 or greater
• Gifts of oil, gas, and mineral interests should generate at least $3,000 per year in royalties or other income (as determined by the average of the three years before the gift)
• The property should not have extended liabilities or other considerations that make receipt of the gift inappropriate
• A working interest (rarely accepted) may only be accepted when there is a plan to minimize potential liability and tax consequences
• The property will undergo an environmental review to ensure that the Church has no current or potential exposure to environmental liability

Questions regarding the tax benefits of such a gift are deferred to the donor’s tax professional. If you have questions, comments, or need more information, please contact Robyn at [email protected] or Dale Carter at [email protected]. UMCburg works closely with the Missouri United Methodist Foundation to ensure the proper execution of donors’ wishes and intents.