Giving More Effectively

As Biblical stewards, we know God has entrusted us with His resources.  We use them to provide for our needs and the needs of those dependent upon us.  When our resources are greater than our needs, we have the opportunity to do all kinds of good things for others and to live generously.

Generous people also benefit from U.S. tax laws that are very supportive of giving to qualified charities.  Taking advantage of them allows us to do more than we first imagine.  

Whether we are giving offerings for regular budget support or wish to make a gift to meet a specific need, how do we decide what we should give?  

Here are some tips to begin the process of effective giving as part of your stewardship: 

  1. Determine your current needs based upon your budget. Do not get stuck trying to second guess and think about “what-if” scenarios. Simply determine your current financial needs.

  2. Inventory all your assets, including cash, savings, retirement accounts, investments, appreciated property, business interests, etc. (If you need help, you can download a copy of our Your Estate Planning Guide here).

  3. Consider the purpose of each asset—does it provide for your current budget, or is it planned for future needs such as college funds, or retirement?

  4. Assess and decide if each asset remains important to your financial goals.

  5. Examine your assets to determine whether each one is actually appreciating in value.

  6. Consider whether or not you wish to continue managing each asset.

Depending on the size and makeup of your estate, your answers may be simple or complex.  If you determine there are assets that:

  • You no longer desire to manage,

  • Have appreciated in value creating a difficult tax burden, or

  • Are not providing sufficient income to meet current obligations,

Then there may be effective charitable strategies to benefit you and the ministries you love.

We can help you explore charitable options that can achieve your stewardship and generosity desires—if helpful, we can provide a detailed proposal to illustrate how these charitable concepts may fit into your giving lifestyle.