Charitable gift annuities are one of the oldest and most reliable charitable tools available to donors. A Charitable Gift Annuity is a combination of both a gift and an investment. It is an excellent way to help support the Church while also helping to insure your own financial security. A Charitable Gift Annuity is a simple contract between you and the Church whereby you irrevocably transfer cash or marketable securities (e.g., stock, bonds, mutual fund shares, etc.) of at least $5,000 to the Church and the Church pays you a guaranteed fixed income for life on a quarterly basis, based on your age and the interest rate in effect when the annuity is established. When you transfer these assets to the Church, you are giving a gift to the Church and purchasing an annuity at the same time, therefore you receive a charitable income tax deduction in the year the gift is made. Depending on your age, a significant portion of the annuity payments may be tax free. There are also no legal or administrative costs to you.

Another option available to donors is the Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity. The Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity, also referred to as a Deferred Payment Gift Annuity, involves the current transfer of cash and/or marketable securities (minimum $5,000) to the Church. In return, the Church agrees to pay you income at a predetermined future date. The amount of fixed income you receive is determined by your age and the length of the deferral period. Delaying the start of income payments also results in a more favorable rate of income than electing immediate annuity payments. This method of gifting may be appealing to anyone who desires a reliable future income stream and the benefit of a current tax deduction. Advantages of a deferred charitable gift annuity over an immediate charitable gift annuity also generally include a larger charitable income tax deduction in the year the gift is made.