Recently, the PCA Foundation hosted two Smart Giving Workshops in partnership with First Presbyterian Jackson and Faith Presbyterian in Birmingham. These churches opened their sanctuaries for members to enjoy a meal and learn about the ways they can support gospel ministry. Chase Wynn, director of giving and stewardship at First Presbyterian Jackson, says, “That sort of ministry-event is an important part of our strategy to sow into our congregation a long-view of their giving in addition to the way they support the church year by year. The PCAF is a great resource for equipping churches and ministry leaders to have those conversations with their givers.”
A Smart Giving Workshop has one goal: to help you lower your tax burden in order to increase the amount you can give away. These workshops share a biblical view of wealth and giving, highlight practical ways to save on taxes, and share estate planning concepts and tools. Executive Pastor Martin Wagner from Faith Presbyterian shares after the workshop, “This is not a fundraiser with a high-pressure “ask” at the end. This is a workshop to introduce you to strategies that may help you give more…The PCAF helps you give more to the churches and other charitable organizations that are important to you.”
These workshops are open to the entire congregation, though it is encouraged to attend, especially if you:
- Own non-cash assets such as a business, real estate, or cryptocurrency.
- Are experiencing elevated taxable income due to peak earnings, bonuses, inheritance, or a liquidation event.
- Anticipate making a large charitable bequest from your estate.
- Want to create lifetime income while making long-term gifts.
Workshops are helpful, even if you:
- Already use a donor-advised fund. The workshops cover tax-efficient giving strategies that could help you now or in the future. There is no pressure to move from your current DAF sponsor. There are many options in the market, and the goal is to get you the information you need for your specific situation.
- Are a business owner, but have no plans to sell anytime soon. A complex gift of corporate interest can take years of planning, and having the information before you intend to sell can help in the planning process.
- Give regularly from your income; why make things more complicated? In many situations, there are easy ways for you to decrease your tax burden and give more.
- Are retired. Even in retirement, there are situations and opportunities where estate and tax planning could increase your ability to give.
The workshop is designed to provide a palatable experience for attendees. Ruling Elder at First Presbyterian Jackson, Bill Stone shares, “The Smart Giving Workshop was very helpful to both my wife and I as we consider how we can give more efficiently and effectively to ministry and outreach. Our eyes were opened to new ways to give and how to accelerate giving as we approach retirement… Those [attendees] in the room were not new to giving, but they were encouraged to think strategically about their desire to give to Kingdom work…this seminar is excellent for establishing generosity at every stage of life.”
If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your church, contact the PCAF here to request a workshop.