Thank You to our Legacy Society Members!

Deep gratitude goes to the members and friends who are part of our Legacy Society in acknowledgement of the legacy gifts to First Unitarian to help secure our future for many decades to come! 

March is Foundation Month: Help Secure the Future of First Unitarian Church!

March is “Foundation Month”, a time when we ask the congregation to reflect on the importance of leaving a legacy gift to help secure the future of First Unitarian Church.

The Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3), operates solely for the support and benefit of First Unitarian Church of Portland and its mission. By including The Foundation or The Church in your Will or Estate Plan you are helping ensure a strong and vibrant Beloved Community for generations to come and inspiring fellow congregants to do the same!

The Legacy Society was created to acknowledge and thank those members and friends of the church who have taken the important step of including The Foundation in their Will or Estate Plan. If you’ve already done this, please fill out our Legacy Intent Form, so that we may recognize you as an official member of our Legacy Society!

For questions, additional information or to make planned giving arrangements email stewardship@firstunitarianportland.org.

The Foundation Board of Stewards

A board of seven Stewards manages the business and activities of the Foundation. Five Stewards are elected by the voting members of the congregation and two are appointed by the Church’s board of trustees. In addition, the Church’s called ministers may serve as nonvoting ex-officio members.

All funds are administered as an endowment to support The Church and its mission.

Well-regarded outside investment managers with a focus on socially responsible investing and investor advocacy manage The Foundation’s funds.

Planned Giving

First Unitarian Foundation Brochure

First Unitarian Church of Portland Foundation (The Foundation), a separate 501(c)(3), operates solely for the support and benefit of First Unitarian Church of Portland (The Church) to help ensure a strong and vibrant future.

Including The Foundation or The Church in your will or estate plan is all about “planned giving.”

You don’t have to be wealthy to make a legacy gift to The Foundation.

The most rewarding part of planned giving is knowing that you can make truly wonderful things happen in the future with the resources you have accumulated during your lifetime. Additionally, some planned gifts include a provision for you, or someone you designate, to receive funds during your or your designee’s lifetime.

Planned Giving Is Smart Investing
When you make a planned gift to The Foundation you may  receive benefits such as:

• A reduction of income and estate taxes;
• Avoidance of long term capital gains;
• An effective rate of return;
• A potential increase in income for you, your
  family and/or another beneficiary you designate.

And, with every legacy gift you make you:
Leave a lasting and important legacy for future generations of The Church’s beloved community and help to inspire fellow congregants to do the same!

The Legacy Society

The Legacy Society was established to recognize both members and friends of The Church who have taken the important step of including The Foundation or The Church in their Wills or Estate Plans. These generous individuals have planned a lasting legacy—a gift that will benefit The Church again and again for generations to come.

If you’ve already done this, please fill out our Legacy Intent Form, so that we may recognize you as an official member of our Legacy Society!

For questions or additional information, please contact:

First Unitarian Portland Stewardship Office
503-228-6389 Ext. 212
stewardship@firstunitarianportland.org

Ways of Giving

All planned gifts should include The First Unitarian Church of Portland Foundation, tax I.D. number 43-1968342, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, located at 1034 SW 13^th Ave., Portland, OR 97205

*It is recommended that all gifts and designations involve consultation with an attorney or financial advisor as The Foundation cannot make recommendations or speak directly to a person’s specific tax circumstances or the benefits they may receive.

Outright Gifts
Gifts may be made to The Foundation “outright” in the form of cash, equity, stocks, real estate or other tangible personal property. These may be exempt from capital gains tax and may qualify for a charitable deduction.

Bequests (gift by Will or Estate Plan)
By naming The Foundation (and by extension The Church) as a beneficiary you can make a charitable commitment while retaining full use of your assets during your lifetime. It is as easy and as simple as adding a sentence or two to your legal document.

Bequests may be made for a specific dollar amount, a percentage of the total estate or for assets remaining in your estate after your other wishes have been fulfilled. Under current tax law a bequest to The Foundation is free of federal estate tax.

Stock Gifts
Even if stocks you own have dropped below their highest values, many may still be worth more than you paid for them. As appreciated property, they can be very attractive charitable gifts. This can be beneficial for many people due to the possible tax deduction and the avoidance of capital gains taxes.

Retirement Accounts
One of the simplest ways to provide for First Unitarian Church is to name The Foundation as a beneficiary of your retirement plan. Retirement plan assets (such IRAs and 401k, profit sharing or other plans) can be taxed heavily when passed to your heirs through your estate. However, there is usually no tax incurred when these assets are passed to The Foundation.

Life Insurance
Gifts of paid-up life insurance policies, new policies, or policies which are no longer needed are excellent ways to make a possible tax deductible gift now without affecting your current income.

Real Estate
A gift of real estate may consist of all or partial interest in properties such as your residence, vacation home, farm, ranch, condo, apartment or commercial property. You can even continue to live in your property for the remainder of your life. After your lifetime, the property comes directly to the Foundation, often avoiding probate.

Charitable Gift Annuities – Made to the UUA but designated for The Foundation.
This type of life income plan is an irrevocable gift made to the UUA whereby all or a portion of the principle of your original gift (after providing variable or fixed payments to you and a second beneficiary for life or for a set number of years) are then transferred to the Foundation. Minimum initial gift: $10,000.

Charitable Remainder Trusts – Made to the UUA but designated for the Foundation.
This type of life income plan is an irrevocable gift made to the UUA by transferring assets to a trust that pays you (and your spouse or another beneficiary) fixed payments for life. At the end of the trust, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the Foundation. You may also be able to claim a charitable deduction on your income tax in the year you create your trust. Minimum initial gift: $100,000.

Thinking of the Future

Are you interested in including a provision for The Foundation in your Will or Estate Plan? Would you like to learn more about planned giving options that can benefit you, people important to you and The Church? The Foundation is a key resource to help answer those questions and provide useful materials.

For questions, additional information or to make planned giving arrangements, please contact:

First Unitarian Portland Stewardship Office
503-228-6389 Ext. 212
stewardship@firstunitarianportland.org

*It is recommended that all gifts and designations involve consultation with an attorney or financial advisor as The Foundation cannot make recommendations or speak directly to a person’s specific tax circumstances or the benefits they may receive.