The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Post

Most churches are good at inviting and receiving regular offerings — these are gifts congregants usually make from their income. But congregation members can make gifts, sometimes even larger and more fulfilling gifts, from their assets through leaving legacy gifts, also called planned gifts. However, churches rarely invite or receive legacy gifts. If your church isn’t receiving legacy gifts it’s likely because congregants don’t know they’re an option. Three ways to effectively invite legacy gifts during Make-A-Will month or throughout the year are:

How can you equip the next generations with your guidance even after you are gone? Creating a family mission statement can help. A mission statement is what your family must do or become in order to achieve its vision. When you implement a mission statement, you are teaching the next generation what matters most to your family. Some examples of effective mission statements are: “We love Christ intimately and live with graceful generosity.” “Love boldly. Live intentionally. Serve faithfully." "Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly.” This is one of the greatest tools to preserve your family's legacy and unite your family together. Create a mission statement today to start your children in the right direction. https://hubs.ly/Q02RjTVd0 #mission #service #nextgeneration

United for a Purpose... "Only a church united can bring healing and hope to nation divided." - Doug Stringer - The task is greater than we can accomplish alone. - Together we can have a greater Kingdom impact. I believe that our nation's 4.6 million first responders, and their families, is the greatest UNSEEN mission field in our country today. The problems we see across the country: 1️⃣ Isolation - among all who have a heart to reach them for Christ. 2️⃣ Discouragement – from little to no support, fruit, or examples to follow. 3️⃣ Lack of Awareness – for the first responder culture and the need to reach them for Christ, for what other ministries, chaplains, and churches are doing well, and for how first responders and their families can live out their faith. We believe a national networking conference and this alliance, has the opportunity to do what has never been done before, and begin to address these gaps within the body of Christ.  September 20-21, 2024 in Chattanooga, TN. Don't miss this opportunity. Learn more and register online today: https://lnkd.in/eFGF58Xu #firstresponder #realhope #missionfirstalliance

🚨 Churches are starting to ditch their livestreams. 3 big reasons they're calling it quits: 1. To bolster community 2. To save their resources 3. To see more in-person attendance 👀 Read more on our blog to see why churches are cutting their Sunday morning livestream, and why some churches are choosing to keep it. https://lnkd.in/efw6T6e5 💬 What do you think? Should churches still livestream? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Drop them in the comments! #livestream #churchonline #churchtech #church #churchcreatives #churchleaders

How do you honor the legacies that have shaped you? Each legacy holds stories, values, and lessons that ripple through time, subtly guiding and inspiring those who remain. A well-tended memorial isn’t simply a reminder of loss; it’s a celebration of life, a testament to love, resilience, and the connections that define us. For families, having a dedicated space or object to honor someone special helps transform grief into peace, turning memory into presence. In our work, we believe that legacy is about impact, about knowing that a part of you will live on, adding meaning to the lives of others. Each memorial holds the power to foster healing, growth, and connection across generations. #memorials #legacy #funeralPlanning #EndofLife #griefSupport

When we understand that our individual narratives form part of God’s grand story, our perspective shifts. We see the significance of our lives in the broader context of God’s work. Each moment becomes an opportunity to contribute something unique—something that reflects God’s grace, love, and restoration. Watch the full video: https://vist.ly/yxtn #churchmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #christiannonprofit #churchcommunications #storiesmobilize #endstorypoverty #reels

The storytelling and guide approach aligns closely with the mission of many Christian ministries, which is to reflect the teachings of Christ. By adopting the role of the guide, ministries can more effectively embody the principles of empathy, compassion, and service that are central to the Christian faith. Watch the full video: https://vist.ly/3avdf #churchmarketing #nonprofitmarketing #christiannonprofit #churchcommunications #storiesmobilize #endstorypoverty

Sometimes churches need to fold for legitimate reasons. How a church closes its doors is very important. Dr. Fant writes, "Sadly, some churches have accomplished their purpose and need to close. This decision presents countless uncertainties that likely will elicit fear in even the most audacious church leaders. But closing, though often difficult and emotional, need not be interpreted as failure. In fact, a church that dies with dignity can have a major impact on other churches and even continue its ministry into the future." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eRXRs9Wa #Christianliving #churchplanting

Have you ever thought about how your estate plan can reflect your faith? For the 75% of Texans who identify as Christian, we’re proud to introduce our newest option: the Christian Estate Plan. This unique estate planning option includes: ✝️ A statement of Christian faith, allowing you to share your beliefs with your loved ones as part of your legacy. 🙏 Enhanced language to make gifting to your church seamless, ensuring your values of generosity live on. We believe estate planning is about more than just documents—it’s about leaving behind a meaningful legacy. Start your Christian Estate Plan today and ensure your faith and values are part of the story you leave for your family. 📣 Special Offer for Churches: If your church would like to help its members create meaningful, faith-centered estate plans, we have a special opportunity for you! By partnering with us to advertise the Christian Estate Plan to your congregation, we’ll create a unique discount code for your church, allowing each member to create their own free will. 💡 Members can also choose to add powers of attorney or a trust for additional fees, but they’re not required to do so. Tag your church in the comments or share this video with your ministry team to get started! Let’s work together to provide affordable estate planning for every Texan who values their faith. Visit TexanWillsandTrusts.com to learn more or DM us for partnership details! #ChristianEstatePlan #EstatePlanning #TexanWillsAndTrusts #ChristianFaith #LegacyPlanning #FaithAndFinances #ChurchPartnerships

MOVING THE DIAL 🤝 In collaboration with The Methodist Church, All We Can has produced a resource to help churches explore and embody the 5 Practices of Justice from the Justice-Seeking Church report. 📜 This is not to encourage churches to start lots of new initiatives, but to help congregations 'move the dial' towards better ways of doing justice in what they are already doing. 🙏 The sessions feature games, prayer activities, videos, and practical suggestions around Being With Not For, Humility in Community, Self-Awareness and the Use of Power, Transformation, and Prayer. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eYmyEv8V