CORNERSTONE: OUR FIRM FOUNDATION FOR A LASTING TOMORROW
The Cornerstone Society: Planned Giving Ministry at Grace-St. Luke’s (link to brochure or read details below)
Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is the special and dynamic place it is today because of the work and generosity of both past and present members of the parish. We have been particularly blessed by parishioners who have made planned gifts of all sizes to the church. Those who planned and provided these gifts – our firm foundation - had a vision for Grace-St. Luke’s which we now enjoy.
Our Endowment Fund is the cornerstone of our commitment to provide future parishioners with the means to minister to our community as we have been blessed to do. Income from endowment funds may be used at the Vestry’s discretion to support:
HERITAGE – for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of the Church buildings and grounds.
OUTREACH – for support of the charitable and outreach mission of the Church in the community and the world.
MUSIC – for support and promotion of our music ministry.
YOUTH – for promotion of the mission of the Church youth and young adults.
GSL SCHOOL – for support of the joint mission of the Church and Grace-St. Luke’s School in order to foster an educational environment grounded in Episcopal tradition.
We invite you to join in this important ministry for the future of our parish by adding your own planned gift to the legacy we are building. The Cornerstone Society recognizes parishioners who include Grace-St. Luke’s in their estate plans.
Gifts to the Grace-St. Luke’s Endowment Fund can be made by making a direct gift of cash or appreciated assets, or by making a planned gift.
Planned gifts, though requiring financial and estate planning assistance, offer a unique opportunity for making a significant gift to the Endowment Fund while still providing for your loved ones. Some planned gift options provide income for life and reduce the tax burden on donors and their heirs.
A Bequest in a will is one of the most common ways of making a planned gift to the church. You can designate a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or a specific asset. Grace-St. Luke’s can also be named as a contingent beneficiary.
Life Income Gifts such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, or pooled income funds provide you and/or your designated beneficiary income for life, and provide a gift to the church after your death. Life income gifts generally reduce or eliminate certain taxes and guarantee an income for life.
Life Insurance can be used to make lasting gifts to Grace-St. Luke’s Endowment Fund simply by making the church a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of a new or existing policy. Your life insurance can actually “endow” your annual pledge to Grace-St. Luke’s.
Retirement Plan Assets are an excellent means of charitable giving through your estate planning. Tax-exempt organizations like Grace-St.Luke’s are not subject to the same income tax that individuals are, and thus may receive the full amount of gifts from tax-deferred savings accounts such as 401(k)s or IRAs.
Your planned gift, regardless of type or size, can be a precious legacy for the future ministries of our parish.
This information is for illustration only and is not meant to take the place of any financial or legal advice. Please consult with your financial and legal counsel about specific charitable gifts.
Contact Stewardship Associate Chapman Morrow (901.252.6328, cmorrow@gracestlukes.org) for more information. If you already know you want to designate Grace-St. Luke’s in your estate plans and become a member of The Cornerstone Society, please either print, complete, and mail a paper version of the registration form or fill out the form below.
Please Note: Effective May 1, 2021, GSL will work with Thompson & Associates, a Nashville-based firm specializing in planned giving for non-profits, to support The Cornerstone Society, offer "planning for tomorrow" events and services for GSL parishioners, and more. (This one-year consultation is made possible by a substantial gift from an anonymous donor.)