Planned Giving Reference Sites

United Church Site Outlined Alternatives For Planned Giving

Gift Annuities

A charitable gift annuity is a way to make a gift to your favorite charity, and still receive an income for yourself or others. It is a contract under which a charity, in return for a transfer of cash or other property, agrees to pay a fixed sum of money for a period measured by one or two lives. The person who contributes an asset for the annuity is called the "donor", and the person who receives payments is called the "annuitant" or "beneficiary." Usually, the annuitant is also the donor, but this is not always true. The maximum number of annuitants is two, and payments can be made to them jointly or successively. There are several types of gift annuities and the payments vary according to the type selected. See the following links for probable payments according to the age(s) of the beneficiaries.

Single Life - ACGA Suggested Gift Annuity Rates

Two Lives - ACGA Suggested Gift Annuity Rates

Procedure for Calculating Suggested Deferred Gift Annuity Rates

Form for initiating a gift annuity

Comments on Gift Annuity Rates

United Church of Sun City Endowment Fund

The United Church of Sun City has established an Endowment Fund to provide members and friends the opportunity to make charitable gifts to the Church. These gifts will continue through the years to be a living memorial to the donors and the income will help provide for the long term needs of the Church, its programs, ministries and missions. Gifts and bequests received in the form of stocks, bonds, real estate or other such property shall be sold to establish the amount of the charitable gift. If the gift or bequest is accepted by the Church Council and is designated for the Endowment Fund the proceeds shall be invested as soon as possible in that Fund.

The Endowment Committee shall:

A. Promote long term financial support of the Church through bequests, gifts; annuities, real estate and other property; 

B. Select prudent and diversified investments for the assets of the Endowment Fund;

C. Work closely with the Church Treasurer in monitoring the Endowment Fund investments;

D. Meet at least quarterly. The Treasurer shall prepare and present a report for the Committee at least once each quarter and it will be shared with the Board of Finance and the Church Council. A report from the Endowment Committee shall be presented to the congregation at least annually. Distribution of unrestricted bequests shall be determined and authorized by the Church Council, with a substantial part of the bequest to be added to the permanent Endowment.

Restricted gifts or bequests for special use or purposes, require the acceptance of the Church Council. Prospective donors of restricted gifts shall be informed that in the event Church Council determines at some future time that it is no longer practical for the funds to be used for the purpose specified by the donor, the Church Council may devote the principal and/or income from the gift for the general use and benefit of the Church.

The Investment objectives for the Endowment Fund are:
A. Conservation of the original principal contributed by donors;
B. Investment in institutions, companies or funds which make a positive contribution to life in our society;
C. Maintain a diversified portfolio of investments on a total return investment policy, which seeks both distributed earnings, such as interest, dividends, capital gains, and undistributed earnings and capital gains which are reinvested in order to increase the portfolio's net worth and market value.

The Church may use annually for its ministries, programs and missions an amount equal to seven percent (7%) of the Endowment portfolio's total market value on the first day of January of that year. The 7% shall consist of interest and dividends plus withdrawals from the portfolio to take advantage of capital gain increases and appreciation. Other than the above 7% annual contribution to the church budget, no withdrawals shall be made from the Endowment without the express approval of a three-fourths' majority of those voting at the annual or a special membership meeting.