A Legacy of Faith and Care
Planning today to sustain loved ones and ministry for generations to come.
Legacy Giving Strengthens Our Shared Future
Planned giving connects personal values with long term ministry impact, becoming part of a larger story rooted in faith, compassion, and enduring hope.
Planned Giving and The Life of The Church
Planned Giving and The Life of The Church
Planned giving offers individuals a meaningful way to express faith, stewardship, and care for the future. Through thoughtful estate and financial planning, donors help sustain ministry, provide stability in changing times, and ensure that care and compassion continue across generations.
These gifts support both the church’s immediate mission and its long term strength, reflecting a shared commitment to faith informed generosity.
Planned giving is supported through the Together for Tomorrow campaign from The Pension Boards to encourage faithful, forward looking stewardship. The initiative provides tools and resources that make thoughtful planning and long term ministry sustainability more accessible to United Church of Christ ministries.
What Is Planned Giving?
Planned giving includes gifts arranged now to support ministry at a future time, often while also meeting personal, family, and financial goals.
Common planned giving options include:
- Bequests through a will or trust
- Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance policies
- Other estate based or deferred charitable gifts
These arrangements provide long term stability and allow ministries to plan with confidence and care.
Why Planned Giving Matters
Planned and legacy gifts play an essential role in sustaining ministry across generations. They:
- Provide long term financial stability
- Strengthen ministry through economic cycles
- Reflect faith filled stewardship and intentional generosity
Together, these gifts help protect and carry forward the mission entrusted to the church.
A Simple Way to Plan: FreeWill®
To make planned giving more accessible, the church partners with FreeWill®, a secure and trusted online estate planning tool.
FreeWill enables individuals to:
- Create or update a legal will at no cost
- Include The Christmas Fund, the Christmas Forever Fund, or other charitable priorities
- Complete the process clearly, confidently, and at their own pace
There is no obligation, and all planning decisions remain entirely in the individual’s control.
Learn more or begin planning:
Explore additional offerings that support a strong foundation for ministry service.
Clergy Growth & Renewal
Growth and resilience support equip ordained clergy to lead serve with strength, clarity, and confidence.
Retired Servant Care & Connection
Retiree care programs honor faithful service through connection, compassion, and ongoing community support.
Investing with Intention
Guided by UCC values, our investment strategy emphasizes a commitment to uplift communities, protect creation, and promote human dignity.
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Charitable giving was very important to me, and I’ve [left planned gifts] to The Christmas Fund, the church here, the medical school in South Dakota (my education and my career), the Gunnerson Foundation, and I added a Church Camp out in South Dakota Conference because it was such an important part of my faith formation throughout my youth.Emma K. Ledbetter
Church Council of First Congregational UCC in La Crosse, Wisconsin
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