A Simple Way to Make a Lasting Impact
Have you ever thought about the legacy you’ll leave behind? Not just for your family, but for your church—the place that has shaped your faith, supported you in times of need, and been a source of community and purpose? Church legacy giving offers one way to make that impact last.
We often think about our giving in the present—tithes, offerings, special gifts—but what if your generosity could extend beyond your lifetime? Legacy giving, or planned giving, is one of the most meaningful ways to ensure that the church you love remains strong for future generations.
Yet many churches never talk about it. And that means that members who would want to include the church in their estate plans often don’t, simply because no one ever invited them to consider it.
So let’s start that conversation.
Church Legacy Giving Is About Stewardship, Not Just Fundraising
Church legacy giving is about more than finding another source of income for the congregation. It is an extension of Christian stewardship.
Throughout our lives, we make decisions about how to use our income and accumulated assets. Our estates give us one final opportunity to make those same decisions about the resources entrusted to us. A legacy gift allows someone to continue supporting the ministries, people, and institutions that have mattered to them, even beyond their lifetime.
For a congregation, encouraging legacy giving means helping people think about generosity and faithful stewardship across their whole lives. The church’s need to receive a gift is important, but it comes second to helping people consider how they want to share the blessings they have accumulated over a lifetime.
Why Legacy Giving Matters
Churches depend on the faithful giving of their members to keep the lights on, fund ministries, and serve the community. But what happens when times change? Attendance fluctuates. Budgets tighten. Unexpected expenses arise.
A strong financial foundation helps a church weather those changes—and legacy gifts can play an important role in building that foundation.
Legacy giving is about more than money. It’s a way to help ensure that the ministries, missions, and spaces that have meant so much to people continue to thrive. Legacy gifts can help a church:
- Sustain community outreach programs that serve those in need.
- Care for the building and grounds, ensuring a safe and welcoming space.
- Invest in new ministries and innovations that meet the needs of the next generation.
But legacy gifts don’t just happen. Churches need to invite people to consider them.
How Can Someone Leave a Gift to Their Church?
Leaving a gift to a church does not have to be complicated, nor is legacy giving only for wealthy people. A legacy gift can be large or small, and there are several ways to include a congregation in an estate plan.
One of the simplest is a charitable bequest—a gift made through a will or trust. Someone considering a gift in their will to a church might choose to:
- Leave a specific dollar amount to the church.
- Designate a percentage of the estate.
- Give specific assets, such as securities or property.
- Leave the church a portion of the estate that remains after other gifts have been made.
A church can also be named as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy. More complex planned gifts are possible as well, but churches do not need to become estate-planning experts. Donors should work with their own legal, tax, and financial advisers when deciding which approach is appropriate for them.
Five Ways to Encourage Legacy Giving in Your Church
Many people would gladly leave a gift to their church—but they don’t realize how easy it can be. They may assume it’s complicated or that only wealthy people can do it. Churches can help remove those barriers by making legacy giving a normal part of their stewardship ministry.
1. Show How Legacy Gifts Make a Difference
When people see the impact of legacy giving, they understand its power.
- The youth group still gathers in the church gym, thanks to a bequest that helped pay for the renovation.
- A pastor’s discretionary fund allows the church to respond to emergencies because a member left a portion of their life insurance to the church for that purpose.
- The new accessibility upgrades were made possible because someone included the church in their will.
Stories matter. If your church has received legacy gifts in the past, share those stories. Help your congregation see how these gifts make ministry possible, long after the donor is gone.
2. Make Legacy Giving Simple and Accessible
People don’t want a complicated process—they want clear, easy steps. Churches can provide basic information about bequests, beneficiary designations, and other common ways to make a legacy gift without trying to provide legal or financial advice.
A simple legacy giving guide with FAQs, giving options, and information about whom to contact can remove barriers and encourage people to take the next step.
3. Talk About Legacy Giving Regularly
Many churches never discuss planned giving at all—so it’s no surprise that members don’t think about it.
Make it a normal part of the conversation in your church. You might:
- Include a simple reminder in your bulletin or newsletter.
- Have the pastor mention it in a sermon on stewardship or generosity.
- Add a legacy giving page to your church’s website.
- Host an annual workshop about wills, estate planning, or planned giving.
You don’t need a big campaign. You need to keep the idea present so that when members think about estate planning, they also think about their church.
4. Give People a Clear Next Step
Even when people want to give, they often get stuck on what to do next. Give them an easy way forward:
- Provide a legacy giving guide with basic information and giving options.
- Offer a private conversation with a pastor or church leader.
- Invite members to a Q&A session with an estate-planning professional.
When churches make legacy giving simple and approachable, people are more likely to consider it.
5. Lead by Example
Church leaders set the tone. If pastors, elders, and other leaders have included the church in their own plans and are comfortable sharing that decision, their example can make the idea much more tangible for others.
“I love this church, and I want it to be strong long after I’m gone. That’s why I’ve included it in my will. It was a simple process, and it gives me great joy to know my legacy will support the mission of this church for generations to come.”
When people see leadership practicing legacy giving, they are far more likely to consider it for themselves.
Your Church’s Future Starts Today
I’ve always heard that the best time to make a legacy gift was twenty years ago. But the second best time is today.
Think about your church in 50 years. Will it be thriving? Will it still be making an impact in the community?
The decisions we make today shape the future. Legacy giving isn’t just about financial security—it’s about ensuring that our churches continue to be places of worship, service, and transformation for generations to come.
Churches can begin simply: talk about planned giving at a leadership meeting, include occasional legacy giving messages in church communications, offer members opportunities to learn about wills and estate planning, and make sure people know whom to contact when they are ready to have a conversation.
Legacy giving isn’t just for “wealthy donors.” It’s for anyone who wants to see their church thrive beyond their lifetime. One conversation today could make a difference for your church for generations to come.
Want to Go Deeper?
Legacy giving can become an important part of a congregation’s long-term stewardship ministry. I wrote The Legacy Giving Manual: Unleashing Generosity in Your Congregation through Planned Giving as a practical resource for churches that want to move beyond an occasional conversation and develop an intentional approach to legacy giving.
The manual covers the spiritual and financial dimensions of legacy giving, common giving options, the work of a legacy giving committee, ways to promote legacy giving in the congregation, legacy giving societies, sample messages, and a three-year plan for getting started.