Legacy Giving
What Will Your Legacy Be?
With estate gifts, individuals leave a lasting legacy that supports the mission and ministry of St. Philip the Deacon in perpetuity.
Legacy Giving
Individuals who include St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church or its Foundation in their legacy and estate plans provide ongoing support to the church they love while enjoying real tax benefits. Legacy gifts directed to St. Philip the Deacon support the congregation’s day-to-day mission and ministry, while gifts directed to the St. Philip the Deacon Foundation support the congregation in perpetuity.
If you’ve already decided to include St. Philip the Deacon or its Foundation in your estate plans, we’d love to know. Complete a Letter of Intent to become a member of Rejoicing Partners.
Planned Giving
Learn more about your options for legacy gifts.
Sorting through estate planning can be a complicated maze. We’ve put together resources so you can learn about different kinds of legacy gifts, compare their benefits, and use tools like gift calculators to determine which type of gift may be best for you and your family. Learn more about your legacy gift options.
Rejoicing Partners
Join others who have left a legacy for St. Philip the Deacon.
Rejoicing Partners is SPD’s honorary society for members who have included the church or Foundation in their estate plans. The name comes from the story of St. Philip the Deacon in Acts 8:39, which ends with a newly baptized Ethiopian man going on his way rejoicing.
Members are recognized for their generosity and invited to inspire others, though anonymity is always an option. To join, complete and return a Letter of Intent.
SPD Foundation
Expanding the ministry and mission of St. Philip the Deacon through Legacy Gifts.
The St. Philip the Deacon Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minnesota. Its goal is to receive legacy gifts and provide Christian stewardship of accumulated assets to augment, expand and enhance the mission and ministry of the church.
Because gifts to the Foundation are held and invested rather than spent immediately, St. Philip the Deacon generally recommends directing legacy gifts to the Foundation rather than to the church. For more information, contact us via email at foundation@spdlc.org.
Legacy Gift Q&A
Answers to your questions about legacy gifts to St. Philip the Deacon.
How can I leave a legacy?
Your gift to the Foundation should be customized to best fit your particular circumstances. Gifts of all sizes are important and welcomed. Gifts of any size also usually translate into significant tax benefits for the donor.
Please contact your financial advisor or attorney to determine how you can best leave a legacy that will continue to build new foundations for the future of this community of faith. You may also contact Senior Pastor Tim Westermeyer at 763-475-7136 or by emailing twestermeyer@spdlc.org to discuss structuring a legacy gift to benefit the church.
Do you have any specifics about how to leave an estate gift?
Yes. You can learn much more about how to leave a legacy for St. Philip the Deacon through planned giving by clicking here.
Should I alert the church if I would like to leave a legacy gift?
Yes, please do. To indicate your desire to leave a gift through your estate, please complete and return this Letter of Intent, which automatically makes you a member of our honorary legacy society, Rejoicing Partners.
What is the right amount to give?
There is no “right amount.” We welcome and celebrate gifts of all sizes to the Foundation. The important thing to remember is that contributing to the Foundation isn’t limited only to major gifts.
Can I leave part of my estate?
Yes. You can bequest either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to the Foundation. You can discuss these options with your attorney.
If I want to participate, do I need to contribute today?
No. If your contribution is in the form of life insurance or a bequest, for example, the Foundation won’t receive the contribution until your death.
Does the Foundation compete with annual fundraising?
No. Contributions to the Foundation are entirely different from the church’s annual operational stewardship appeals or triennial appeals, where members are encouraged to tithe annual income. The goal of the Foundation is to give individuals a way to contribute accumulated assets through gifts, wills and other forms of estate planning.
What is Rejoicing Partners?
An honorary society to recognize those who have included the church or foundation in their estate plans.
Christian Wisdom
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”
St. Augustine
