Options for donating property to support ministry

Are you looking to donate property to support a ministry you love?

One beneficial tool for supporting WELS ministry while enjoying tax benefits is the donor-advised fund (DAF). A DAF involves making an irrevocable contribution to WELS Foundation, then at any time thereafter recommending distributions to various WELS ministries.

When you donate property to a DAF, you can claim a charitable deduction based on the fair market value of the asset and avoid capital gains taxes that would otherwise apply to the sale of the property. One of the unique advantages of a DAF is the flexibility it offers to recommend distributions to different WELS ministries over time. Contribute to your donor-advised fund this year and decide later which WELS ministries you want to support. Your donations can be anonymous if you prefer privacy in your charitable giving.

One WELS couple recently donated a condominium to WELS Foundation to fund a DAF. They shared: “We have decided as a family not to wait until we die and then have our large gifts given to charity; we’d prefer to give it now so we can see, revel, and have joy in doing God’s work. The best thing about giving appreciated assets is it allows us to increase our offerings. With real estate there’s a little bit of work involved and there are always little obstacles that come up, but [the Christian giving counselor and WELS Foundation staff] were really quick to respond and help resolve issues.”

Another option for donating property is to simply give it (without establishing a donor-advised fund). You will receive the charitable deduction and avoid capital gains taxes all while supporting the gospel ministry of Christ’s Church.

Learn more about donor-advised funds or contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at 800-827-5482 or [email protected] for assistance.