Join Us

Together we are powerful. And together we can secure the future of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota.

Let’s Talk

Raise Your Hands!

Are you considering a planned gift, or just curious about the possibilities? Raise your hand to start a confidential, no-obligation conversation.

Let's Talk

You Don’t Have to Shout!

Well you can if you want, or you could whisper in our ear. Either way, it is important to let us know if First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota is in your plans.

Let's Talk

What is Planned Giving?

Planned Giving is a way to support First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota in the future through arrangements you make today utilizing a planned gift.

A planned gift to your church is an expression of you and your family's values and commitment to Christian Stewardship. It is a way of saying that after your family and loved ones, these are the causes that matter most, and providing for them is important to you. A gift from your estate to First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota strengthens our endowment and sustains God’s mission through the ministry of the Church – a legacy and powerful response to God’s generosity.

Planned gifts are planned for during the donor’s lifetime but not realized by the beneficiary until the donor’s death. There are many other ways to plan a gift. There are gifts that pay you income during your lifetime and gifts that help reduce or avoid income and estate taxes. How you make your gift is important, but more important is the impact your planned gift will have on the causes that matter to you most.

This site is designed to make it easy for you to get the information you need when considering a planned gift. You will also find information to share with your financial advisor and/or estate planner. When you are ready, you can use this site to reach out to us to share your plans, let us know what you are considering, or just to start a confidential, no obligation conversation about what’s possible.

Why Give?

A planned gift is an expression of you and your family's values. It's a way of saying that after your family and loved ones, these are the causes that matter most and providing for them is important to you. A planned gift is important to First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota, too. These gifts help strengthen our endowment and sustain our mission.

A message from Rev. Dr. Wes Bixby

Reasons to Build Your First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota Legacy

At First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota, our annual stewardship gifts provide funding for current year operations and church work each year. Planned Gifts made to the Endowment Funds are different - planned gifts are held in a Trust for growth and income to support the long-term objectives of First Congregational of Sarasota and its mission in perpetuity. By sharing your planned gifts through wills, bequests and other ways, you will ensure future generations will have opportunities to worship, find welcoming fellowship for all, praise God through music, and participate in a congregation open to all.

What Matters Most

Your well-considered planned gift can make an impact on a specific area of need. Consider directing your planned gift to these core missions and ministries or directing your planned gift as an unrestricted gift to First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota.

  • The First Congregational Church endowment is professionally managed and invested in socially responsible funds. It allows us to put the gifts from our members - past and present – to work in perpetuity and make a positive impact upon our community and the world. A share of the earnings will go towards the First Congregational Church annual operating budget.

  • The Building Fund is used to maintain the physical structure of First Congregational Church. Donors like you have made gifts to this fund to ensure we have a place in the community to call home and enable us to use our operating budget to support our missions and ministries.

  • First Congregational Church has one of the premier church music programs in Sarasota. We are fortunate to have an outstanding Minister of Music who is recognized as one of the most accomplished organists in the Southeastern US. Our wonderful music brings joy to the hearts of congregation. This is made possible by the generous financial support of our church members.

How to Give

As a donor, you have total discretion over your planned gift. You have options for how your planned gift will be used, what to give and how to give. There are planned gifts you can provide for in a Will or trust and planned gifts that provide income to you and/or a beneficiary for their lifetime.

Gifts from your Will
Bequests 

Through a provision in your written and executed Will or living trust, you can make a planned gift (or an outright gift) to First Congregational Church in the form of cash, securities, real estate or personal property. There are many types of bequests. Consult with your attorney to choose the one that best fits your needs and intentions.

Download Bequest Language

Gifts that Pay You
Charitable Gift Annuities 

You can turn underperforming or non-income producing assets (cash, stock, CDs, savings bonds, etc.) into a gift to First Congregational Church that provides income to you or you and a loved one. (One example of several available options is a Gift Annuity.) Your UCF Charitable Gift Annuity will return fixed, quarterly payments for life and provide tax benefits, too.

See How It Would Work for You

Beneficiary Gifts
Retirement Accounts and other Funds 

Naming First Congregational Church as the beneficiary or one of the beneficiaries of a qualified retirement plan such as an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) plan will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing a significant tax savings.

Download Beneficiary Form

Gifts of Appreciated Assets
Buy Low. Give High. 

When you donate appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares instead of cash, the benefit the church receives exceeds the cost of the original securities purchased. You'll get a charitable deduction for the full amount of your gift and avoid the impact of the capital gains taxes on the appreciated securities.

Download Stock Transfer Info

Outright Gifts of Personal Property
Real Estate and Other Valuables 

Personal property, such as antiques, collectibles, musical instruments, works of art or vehicles, can be donated to us today or even after your lifetime through your estate. If the property is related to our mission, it's usually fully tax deductible based on its fair market value. In some cases, your gift of personal property can be used to fund a life income gift, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust.

Contact Us for Details

Gifts of Life Insurance
 

Name First Congregational Church as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy; donate an existing, paid-up life insurance policy you no longer need; or purchase a new life insurance policy and name First Congregational Church as the owner and beneficiary.

Contact Us for Details

Testimonials

  • A Ministry I Want To Support

    "I made a planned gift to First Congregational Church because I believe the church can be one of the most amazing ways God breaks into a world filled with so much divisiveness, hatred, and oppression. First Congregational Church brings a message and ministry of oneness, acceptance, and freedom of spirit for all of God’s people that is deeply needed. This is a ministry I want to support after I pass from this life."

  • A Church Needs an Endowment

    "A church needs an endowment and I so support what First Congregational Church stands for and includes. There are so many wonderful people who attend and give of themselves exhibiting real Christianity. If We don't provide the means to keep this church going, Sarasota will miss the outreach this church exhibits. It is why First Congregational Church is in my Charitable Remainder account."

  • Extend Our Church’s Welcome Into The Future

    "From the time we first walked through the door of FCUCC we felt welcomed and it only took 3 visits to feel fully embraced in Christian love and acceptance. That is painfully difficult to find in many “Christian” churches for LGBTQ people. The openness, Christ like love and charity of members of our congregation continues to inspire us and swells our hearts with love and gratitude for this special church."

  • Keep The Music Playing

    "The most outstanding aspect of our church is the music, in all forms: incredible choirs for early & late services; handbell players add a distinctive charm & joy; the childrens' choir, when they perform, is delightful; the inclusion of the congregation on some occasions; the outstanding prelude & postlude add up to outstanding music at our church. I recently visited with a couple who chose our church because of the music. They felt two other churches they visited were poor by comparison. We do have an outstanding music director in my friend Greg Chestnut, who makes other music groups welcome to perform in our beautiful sanctuary."

  • Just DO It

    What we are is important to the community! At First Congregational United Church of Christ of Sarasota we do not wear colorful bracelets asking “What would Jesus do”, we just do it in our lives as best we can and in our community in scores of ways as individuals and as a congregation.
Previous Next

Let's Talk

Planning your estate and legacy for future generations including your charitable interests takes careful evaluation.

Discussing your charitable intentions with us can lead to a much better result than going it alone – and will ensure that your gift is used just as you wish. Act now to be a good steward of the resources you intend to leave behind. Contact us using the contact info below, or submit this form to get more information.






For Professional Advisors

If you are working with a professional advisor or if you are advising a donor, here's a handy guide for including First Congregational Church in a charitable estate plan.

Download Advisor Guide

Contact Us