Donating to the LOPC Foundation

There are two ways you can give to the LOPC Foundation: first, by making a current contribution of cash, securities, real estate or other assets, second by making a planned gift. A planned gift can be accomplished by simply including LOPC Foundation in your will or trust, or by using, a charitable gift annuity, a charitable remainder trust or a life insurance policy.

In drafting your will or trust, you should be as specific as possible.  If you name LOPC only, your gift will be subject to a formula, established by the Session and accepted by the Foundation, which divides bequests between the Foundation and the Emerging Needs Fund of the church. If you elect to join the Foundation’s Heritage Society, your entire bequest will become part of the permanent endowment of the Foundation. If you wish your bequest to go to a specific Foundation Fund, your will must designate that fund. Any of the Foundation Trustees can provide you with sample language to be incorporated into your estate documents.

If you prefer to make a planned gift such as a charitable gift annuity, a charitable remainder trust or a life insurance policy, you will find the Trustees are informed about these concepts. As your situation may dictate, they will encourage contact with estate planning professionals.

It may be beneficial to include tax deferred assets, such as IRAs, 401 (k) plans or other qualified pension plans when making a charitable contribution. Your estate planning advisor can help in the identification of the appropriate assets for either a current or a planned gift.

Another opportunity for giving to the LOPC Foundation is through a memorial when giving in memory at the death of a friend or relative, or to honor a living person who has performed a special service for the church or for others.

The LOPC Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501©3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Any assets specifically left to the Foundation will not be includable in your estate for tax purposes. Leaving IRA assets to the Foundation also avoids penalty tax which otherwise could severely reduce pass-through to non-charity beneficiaries.

The LOPC Foundation was not created only for estates of the wealthy. It is designed to be of assistance in helping people create more value from their present assets and to think through and plan the distribution of family assets remaining when life is complete. The Foundation can be used by estates both large and small to transfer a percentage of what remains at death to further God’s work in LOPC and its outreach to other people in need. Of course, large estates benefit more from the tax aspects of bequests to tax-exempt organizations. Everyone can benefit, however, from the knowledge that our gifts will go on working year after year.