Planned Giving

A message from The Rev. James P. Adams

Christ Church has been blessed by the generosity of its members since our founding in 1821. Along with annual stewardship giving and capital campaigns, planned gifts clearly underscore the willingness of our fellow parishioners to share their treasure, which along with their gifts of time and talent, have allowed Christ Church to thrive for almost 200 years.

Planned gifts go into our endowment funds. In simple terms, the endowments are managed in one investment account. Each year, investment earnings from the endowed funds are made available to support the various purposes of individual funds. While other conditions may apply, you can assume that approximately 5 percent of your total gift will be spent each year for the benefit you intend. We have parishioners with investment management expertise directing a professional investment firm on how to invest our funds.

You may choose to establish an endowment for a particular purpose that interests you. Or you may add your gift to an already established endowment that targets a purpose you support. If you decide to make a gift to one endowment and want to leave the use of endowment earnings up to the discretion of the Vestry, you may do that, too.

Any member of our parish Planned Giving Committee will be more than happy to help you understand the importance of planned giving, and to provide you with information on purposes and methods for making a planned gift.

Please take some time to scroll through the information on this website. I prayerfully hope that it will inspire you to begin this important and rewarding journey. If you have questions, please contact our Finance Director Sarah Wolf.

What is a Planned Gift?

  • A commitment to share a portion of our bounty and good fortune with Christ Church
  • A gift to the permanent funds of Christ Church
  • A thoughtful and prayerful decision on how and when to structure the giving process
    • Contemporary or legacy
      • Do I make a gift while I am still living or do I make a gift that is delivered to Christ Church upon my death?
    • Form of gift
      • There are numerous ways a gift can be conveyed to Christ Church, ranging from a simple outright donation of cash or liquid securities, to something as sophisticated as a charitable remainder trust.
    • Purpose of gift
      • What ministry/ministries do I want my gift to support?
  • A form of ministry for the donor – securing the future of Christ Church by providing resources to sustain its mission
  • Planned gifts are typically managed by the Investment Committee in a pooled investment fund. Unless otherwise specified, the Investment Committee will provide 5 percent of the investment corpus to fund the intended purpose of the donor.

A Brief History of Planned Giving at Christ Church

Christ Church’s first endowed fund was started in 1862. It is the Josiah Watson Fund, which provides for the upkeep of the steeple and for Christian education. Today, Christ Church has more than 20 named funds with a total endowment value of $5.2 million, generating $250,000 annually, to support a broad range of ministries from named funds with restricted purposes or the Memorial & Endowment Fund, which allows the Vestry the discretion to select a purpose for the gift.

Example Purposes

  • Outreach
  • Buildings and Grounds
  • Education
  • Parish Family Assistance
  • Wake Relief food ministry
  • Various micro-purposes: Organ, Kitchen, Needlepoint, Altar Guild, etc.

The Vestry has established a $50,000 threshold to endow a named fund. At the direction of the donor, other gifts may be added to existing funds or to the Memorial & Endowment Fund.

Why Planned Giving is Critical to Securing the Future of Christ Church

The annual operating budget is funded primarily by annual stewardship pledges.

  • The Vestry tithes at least 10 percent of annual pledged income to support outreach
  • The balance of the operating budget, essentially, is required to fund programs and operations, compensate clergy and staff, and support parish life activities
  • Demographic giving patterns foretell challenges ahead, in terms of stewardship giving levels (many observers believe that younger churchgoers will not view stewardship giving as the same high priority as has the “baby boomer” generation)

Planned gifts ultimately create an additional and a reliable source of funds to support a diverse set of ministries. They provide opportunities for current parishioners to participate in ministries – to make a difference and to enrich themselves spiritually, and create the platform for securing our future and achieving institutional sustainability.

It’s simple – planned gifts matter if you believe that Christ Church matters.

The Christ Church Legacy Guild

When you make a bequest or contribution of any size to Christ Church either in your will or through a trust arrangement, you become a member of the Christ Church Legacy Guild. Founded in 1998, the Christ Church Legacy Guild, with your permission, recognizes all parishioners who have made a provision for the church as part of their estate plan. The amount is always confidential. Use this link view a list of contemporary and historical Legacy Guild members.

Your Next Steps

Begin with personal introspection

  • What do I/we have?
  • How much do I need to support myself and my spouse for the rest of our lives?
  • How much do we want to provide to children and other relatives?
  • With whom do we want to share the balance of our estate?
  • Where does Christ Church place in the hierarchy of our giving?
  • What specific ministries of Christ Church do we want to support?

But while you are introspecting…

  • Create a placeholder with an immediate bequest
  • Make a commitment to join the Mary Sumner Blount Legacy Guild as a contemporary member
  • Complete the form acknowledging your commitment and provide to the church

Simple Codicils

Unrestricted General Bequest – I give the sum of $[amount], unrestricted to the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, a qualifying 501(c)(3) charitable organization having an address of 120 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.

Unrestricted Specific Bequest – I give all of my right, title and interest in my [XXXX] Stock, together with the proceeds and reinvestment thereof, unrestricted to the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, a qualifying 501(c)(3) charitable organization having an address of 120 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.

Unrestricted Residuary Bequest – All of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property, tangible or intangible, and wheresoever situated, I give devise and bequeath X percent, unrestricted to the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, a qualifying 501(c)(3) charitable organization having an address of 120 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601; and Y percent to John Doe, outright; and Z percent to Jane Doe, outright.