Gifts, Bequests and Donations

GIFTS

Some people choose to establish a trust which commences during their lifetime, called an inter vivos gift, others choose to establish a testamentary gift (bequest) in their will.

Such gifts can be made by an individual donor or by multiple donors working together to establish a fund. Gifts can take many forms, including cash, shares, real property or valuable paintings.

Gifts can be either:

1. For the General purposes of the Church.
   This type of gift permits expenditure on any charitable purpose of the Church including for congregations, working for justice, and providing community services, as well as supporting the physical infrastructure of the Church. A gift for the General purposes of the Church enable the money to be used where it is most needed at any given time.
2. For a specific purpose chosen by the donor.
   It is very important that the donor specifies the purpose clearly, but also describes it in sufficiently broad terms to allow for changes to Church activities over time as well as to accommodate increases in the amount of income generated by the increasing endowment. Unless there are specific purposes of the Church which you passionately wish to support, it is preferable to make your gift for the General purposes of the Church so the funds can be used where most needed.

 

BEQUESTS

A gift made in a Will is often called a bequest, otherwise known as a testamentary gift.

A bequest can be:

• ‘Specific’ (such as of a specified amount, or specific item or items)
• The whole or a percentage of the ‘residue’ of a person’s estate (that part remaining after payment of debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, as well as any specific bequests)

Bequests can be left to support the work of the Church which have the greatest meaning, including:

1. For the General purposes of the Church.
   This type of gift permits expenditure on any charitable purpose of the Church including for congregations, working for justice, and providing community services, as well as supporting the physical infrastructure of the Church. A bequest for the General purposes of the Church enable the money to be used where it is most needed at any given time.
2. For a specific purpose chosen by the donor.
   It is very important that the donor specifies the purpose clearly, but also describes it in sufficiently broad terms to allow for changes to Church activities over time as well as to accommodate increases in the amount of income generated by the increasing endowment. Unless there are specific purposes of the Church which you passionately wish to support, it is preferable to leave your bequest for the General purposes of the Church so the funds can be used where most needed.

 

 

Gifts and Bequests can last forever

In the context of the Church, a gift or bequest is held in trust. A trust exists when a person, generally the relevant incorporated property trust is given and holds a gift for one or more of the charitable purposes of the Church, on the terms specified by the donor. Trusts are often established with the intention of memorialising someone, through the creation of a perpetual trust which will benefit the chosen purpose indefinitely. If a donor specifies that only income is to be used the trust will exist in perpetuity. The original asset which is given forms the ‘endowment’ of the trust, which generates the income for application to the specified purpose.

Example purposes of the church

Gifts and bequests can be made to support one or more of the specific purposes of the church, including those listed below. Gifts and Bequests made for General purposes of the Church do not limit the funding of the missional work of the church in response to the changing needs of the community over time.

• General purposes of the Church, or of a particular congregation
• Share Community Appeal
• Supporting the aged, people with disability, and the carers of the aged or people with disability
• The provision of services for people with alcohol and other drug issues
• Supporting the establishment of Social Enterprises to assist the vulnerable
• Supporting the unemployed, people with disability or mental health issues
• Supporting children and youth under 18
• Supporting women who have experienced domestic violence
• Supporting people experiencing homelessness, who are in crisis, or who are newly arrived in Australia
• Providing services to First Peoples
• Supporting the work of overseas partner churches
• Supporting Advocacy and Social Justice
• Assisting with the education of ministers, deacons, lay leaders and the children of ministers
• Supporting retired and infirm ministers and the surviving spouses of ministers
• Supporting Theology students, through bursaries, grants and prizes

Direct Offering

Direct Offering makes it easy for you to make regular contributions directly to your congregation by means of Direct Debit. It’s safe (you don’t need to carry cash) and flexible — you can increase, decrease or cancel your pledge at any time.

Key features

• Eliminates the need for cash transactions
• Allows for regular contributions even if you can’t regularly attend worship
• Payment can coincide with your income — weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually
• Provides your congregation with regular income and cashflow
• Income is credited directly into the recipient’s interest-bearing account in UCA Cash Management Fund.

For an application form, click here