Thanksgiving is a great time to stop and think about thankfulness and generosity. These two things go hand-in-hand. As we give thanks to the Lord for His many blessings, it should remind us to be generous with all He has entrusted to us.

Being generous isn’t just for the very wealthy. All of us are richly blessed and can give to others—whether we give our time, our talents, or our treasures. The goal is to be the best stewards of our resources so we can give generously for the greatest Kingdom impact. To best accomplish this, it requires some planning.

Christians typically increase their giving around Thanksgiving and Christmas. But did you know there are many ways to give that can be more beneficial to you—and the ministries you care about? Most of us give cash from our income without really considering making non-cash gifts like stock, real estate, life insurance, or donations from a business. In fact, 90 percent of most people’s wealth is not in their checking accounts but in non-cash assets. Giving appreciated assets can be a better plan of stewardship because you get a double tax benefit. You not only receive a charitable deduction, but you also avoid paying capital gains tax.

So, why not change the way you think about giving? Non-cash giving is not new—it’s been around since biblical times. Consider how the Israelites sacrificially made such gifts to build the Tabernacle (see Exodus 25:1–9). They gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop (see Exodus 36:3–7). In Acts 4:34-35, we read how Barnabas and the other disciples sold their land and houses and laid the money at the Apostles’ feet. The age-old practice of making non-cash gifts can still be an effective way to accomplish your year-end giving goals.

For help determining the best stewardship plan for your family, give us a call at 833.672.4255. Our team of experienced gift and estate design consultants will work with you—at no cost or obligation—to ensure your gifts have the best tax benefits and the greatest Kingdom impact.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed—and may we all remember to give thanks to the One who is most worthy of our praise.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.
– Psalm 118:1; 1 Chronicles 16:8

 

Guy Burgo
Vice President for Gift & Estate Design