Investing with Faith / Joanna Feltz

The ideal endowment fund for you may already exist

In past columns, I’ve written about creating your own endowment fund. I’ve explained how you can use one to leave a legacy for a particular parish, school or ministry in our archdiocese as well as how establishing one can have great tax benefits. All great advice. But do you really have to set up your own endowment to leave a legacy and receive those benefits?

The answer is no. Setting up an endowment fund isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer not to take on the responsibility of creating a new fund, yet they still leave behind a legacy for God’s work. How? They give to an already existing endowment fund.

The Catholic Community Foundation currently manages more than 470 funds. We have small funds, large funds and everything in between. We have funds that support specific Catholic organizations, schools and parishes in our archdiocese. We have funds that support broader causes such as seminarians in formation for the priesthood, or providing tuition assistance to help send children to Catholic schools or summer camp.

In addition to the convenience of giving to a fund that has already been established, there’s no minimum amount you must give. You can choose the size of gift that best meets your personal situation.

The best way to find out if one of these funds is right for you is to download a copy of our 2016 annual report at www.archindy.org/ccf. The annual report lists every fund we manage, conveniently organized by deaneries. Each listing provides a synopsis of each fund, showing whom it benefits plus its value and distributions.

Check the annual report to see if your preferred Catholic parish, school or ministry has funds devoted to it. Or if you know you want to leave a legacy, but haven’t decided yet which Catholic organization, ministry or cause to support, the annual report is a great way to learn about and narrow down your choices.

If, after reviewing the annual report, you still need help deciding what to do, I will be happy to help. Feel free to reach out to me by e-mail at jfeltz@archindy.org or by phone at 1-800-382-9836, ext. 1482, or 317-236-1482. Giving to an existing endowment fund is a wonderfully convenient way to continue God’s work on Earth.
 

(Joanna Feltz, J.D., is director of planned giving for the Catholic Community Foundation in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and consultant to the law firm Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti, Rudnick & Galbraith PLLC. For more information about planned giving, log on to www.archindy.org/plannedgiving. Tax information or legal information provided herein is not intended as tax or legal advice and cannot be relied on to avoid statutory penalties. Always check with your legal, tax and financial advisors before implementing any gift plan.) †