Churches who want to wean themselves off total reliance to the Sunday offering plate must extend creative giving options to their donors. Only then will the congregation compete effectively for their members philanthropic assets and move from limited budget existence to a growing, fully financed ministry.

Kairos can help your people give from assets in ways that greatly benefit the church and offer huge advantages to them and their families. These creative giving options allow donors to explore outright gifts (now), planned gifts (three to seven years) and heritage or estate gifts (future).

Outright Gifts:

Kairos helps your people look at "non-cash" gift options including:

• Stocks, bonds and mutual funds
• Tangible personal property
• Grain and livestock
• Real estate
• Bargain sales
• Closely-held stock bailouts
• Gift with wealth replacement
• Life insurance

Planned Gifts to Support Current Needs: Combinations of specific assets may have current benefits. Some life income agreements (planned gifts of three to seven years) may have current benefits.

These gifts include:

• Charitable gift annuities (for a term of three to seven years)
• Short-term charitable remainder trusts (three to seven years)
• Educational unitrusts (one to 20 years)

Kairos can help your donor develop a creative giving plan that provides current benefit for the congregation, and remains consistent with the donor's overall plans for current and future giving.

Heritage or Estate Charitable Options and Financial Planning:

For many donors, it is possible that there are options (including the concept of estate tithing) for giving during their own lifetimes, when they can directly enjoy the satisfaction of giving. Some of these options include:

• Retained life estates
• Charitable gift annuities
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable lead trusts
• Special considerations regarding the ultimate disposition of qualified planned assets (e.g., IRAs, Keogh and 401K plans, tax-deferred retirement assets)