Legacy Giving
“We Drink from wells we did not dig; we are warmed by fires we did not build.”Download the Legacy Giving FormGiving
First Universalist Church of Denver has been a beacon of the free church and liberal religious values for over 130 years.
Earlier generations gave their time, passion and money to “pay it forward” for our church and community.
It is now our time to “deepen those wells” and “fan the flames” to keep the fires of our liberal religion burning strong and to ensure that our beloved community remains a stalwart of liberal religious values.
We invite you to consider leaving a lasting legacy to support and maintain this beloved community—both now and into the future.
[Click here to download a copy of the Legacy Giving Brochure]
What is a legacy gift?
A legacy gift is a tangible demonstration of your support for causes and organizations that share our core values and that have mattered most during our lives.
Frequently, legacy gifts are deferred and are given as part of a will, estate plan, or other beneficiary designation, and are therefore often referred to as “Planned Giving.”
A legacy gift to First Universalist Church of Denver shows your personal commitment to the future of our Beloved Community and to our UU values.
If each of us “paid it forward” and made a planned gift to the church, we could ensure that a vigorous, liberal, and free church presence will remain long after we are gone.
Can I direct/choose how my gift is used?
Legacy gifts can be directed by the donor to the general fund or to the church’s endowment fund. In general, the most beneficial gifts to the church are those that are not directed to a specific church function, since this allows the Board the flexibility to use the gift in ways that are most beneficial to the church and its mission.
A legacy gift directed to the church’s endowment fund is invested in the board-directed investment fund that is designed to provide long term financial stability for our church. These funds are invested according to our mission and values. The endowment fund is currently invested in the UUA Common Endowment Fund and in local community investments directly supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. A gift to our endowment fund not only benefits our church but also BIPOC communities in Colorado and across the country.
A legacy gift to the general fund may be used at the discretion of the board to support various projects within the church. Legacy gifts to the general fund are generally not used to support or supplement the annual budget.
Occasionally, members may want to direct their gift to a specific area of church activity/life. To ensure that the donor’s wishes can be fulfilled by the Board without disrupting the church’s operations, these gifts may be directed to support standing church accounts for activities including Music, Faith Formation, Worship, Building, Columbarium or the Minister’s Discretionary fund. In this situation it is very important to have the donor’s intentions known to the church and to discuss the gift with the Board/Legacy Giving Group before making the donation to ensure that the donor’s wishes can be faithfully fulfilled by the church.
Are there financial benefits of giving?
YES! The IRS provides a number of vehicles which allow you and your heirs to save on taxes both now and after you are gone. Of course, to implement a legacy gift you will need to discuss your plans with a lawyer but several members of our church community have expertise in this area and are willing to advise you on how to get the process started. Please feel free to contact any of them to help you understand the process and answer your questions (see bottom of this page).
How will my gift be used/what impact will my gift have?
At First Universalist, those who were members in 2015 are well aware of the significant legacy gift that was given to the church by Kay Robinson’s estate. That gift was the catalyst for the complete and “green” renovation of our church that took place over the following five years. Her legacy gift provided a “kick-start” for members of the congregation to multiply her gift and raise a total of over $4 million dollars to fund the church remodel. While this was an exceptional gift, gifts of any size help the church—from increasing the Endowment Fund, to providing funds for special projects, maintenance of facilities, enhancing the memorial garden, paying off loans and more.
Will my gift be recognized?
If you wish to make your gift anonymously, we understand and will honor your wish. If you would like your gift to be recognized along with gifts from other donors, the Legacy Giving Group is currently considering possible ways to provide recognition and at the same time encourage donors to serve as ambassadors who, by example, can help to keep legacy giving active at First Universalist into the future.
Example language for your legacy gift:
We wish to advise First Universalist Church of Denver of the intent to make a legacy gift to the church with the intention of furthering the mission, “As Unitarian Universalists, our congregation is a mosaic of diverse generations, backgrounds, and identities, where we can bring all of who we are, and who we hope to become. Through arts, exploration, and justice, we cultivate possibilities, ministering with those who share the journey.”
Understanding that this intention is fully revocable, this private and confidential information will assist the Church in making certain your wishes are realized. The Legacy Committee is available to help you learn about different giving options, answer questions, and help you complete the form.
If you are considering leaving a gift…
We at First Universalist have a number of members who have expertise in the area of legacy giving and who can direct you to appropriate resources. We suggest that you talk with one or more of the members listed below to work out a plan and then go to a professional to execute/finalize your plans. We can provide the names of attorneys and advisors in this field. Church members cannot/should not do legal work for other members.
We encourage you to contact any of the members below to begin discussions about your Legacy Gift.
Bill Connors
Spud Van De Water
Woody Emlen
Josie Faix
Tom Abood (Endowment Fund)
Login to Church Center to Access the Directory.
Download a printable Legacy Giving brochure and a Legacy Giving Form from the links below: