01
Future gift
A gift in your will
Name the Diocese in a will or trust with a fixed amount, a percentage, the remainder of an estate, or a contingent gift.
Learn more →
Planned Giving
YOUR VALUES. YOUR LEGACY.
Lead with love.
Leave a legacy.
Thoughtful gift planning can care for the people and ministries you love—while strengthening God’s work across the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago for generations to come.
A FUTURE WITH HOPE
Let love reach forward.
Across northern Illinois, our congregations and ministries deepen faith, form leaders, seek justice, and serve their neighbors. A planned gift carries that shared mission into the future.
FaithCommunityLeadershipJusticeLove
FIND YOUR WAY TO GIVE
One intention.
Many possibilities.
You do not need to be wealthy—or have every detail settled—to begin. Explore a few of the most common approaches below, then speak with your advisor and the Diocese.
02
Give now or later
Retirement assets
Make a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA, or name the Diocese as a beneficiary of a retirement account.
Learn more →03
Simple to update
Beneficiary designation
Designate the Diocese to receive all or part of an investment account, bank account, life-insurance policy, or other eligible asset.
Learn more →04
Recommend a grant
Donor-advised fund
Recommend a grant during your lifetime and consider a successor plan that continues your family’s tradition of generosity.
Learn more →05
Income for life
A gift that pays income
A charitable gift annuity may provide fixed lifetime payments while creating a meaningful future gift for the Diocese.
Learn more →06
Assets beyond cash
A gift of appreciated property
Stocks, bonds, real estate, business interests, insurance, and other assets can sometimes make an especially effective gift.
Learn more →THE COMPLETE LIBRARY
Go as deep as
you need.
Major gifts deserve more than a short summary. Explore the mechanics, potential advantages, practical steps, and questions to raise with your advisors.
01
A future giftWills and trusts
→02A gift during lifeIRA charitable gifts
→03A future giftBeneficiary designations
→04Recommend a grantDonor-advised funds
→05A gift that may pay incomeCharitable gift annuity
→06Advanced planningCharitable trusts
→07Appreciated assetsStocks and bonds
→08PropertyReal estate
→09Current or future giftRetirement assets
→10A current giftCash and checks
→11Current or future giftLife insurance
→12Complex assetsBusiness interests
→13Specialized propertyMineral and royalty interests
→14Combine approachesBlended gifts
→ILLUSTRATION TOOLS
Put a few ideas into numbers.
Explore percentage bequests, appreciated assets, fixed payments, and a simplified unitrust model using assumptions you control.
A CLOSER LOOK
Plan with confidence.
Each gift begins with your goals. These brief overviews can help you prepare for a conversation with the people who know your plans best.
Wills and bequests+
A bequest is among the most flexible ways to make a lasting gift.
Read the full guide →IRA and retirement-plan gifts+
Eligible donors may be able to move funds directly from an IRA.
Read the full guide →Beneficiary-designation gifts+
Many accounts and policies can pass outside a will.
Read the full guide →Donor-advised funds+
Recommend a current grant or consider a charitable successor plan.
Read the full guide →Gifts that can pay income+
Combine generosity, income, and family planning.
Read the full guide →What you can give+
The right asset can matter as much as the amount.
Read the full guide →
THE SOCIETY OF MIRIAM
A legacy of generous love.
Founded in 2012, the Society of Miriam encourages, acknowledges, and celebrates gifts made through estate plans for the benefit of any Episcopal congregation, the Diocese, or an Episcopal institution. It is inspired by Chicago philanthropist Miriam Hoover and her lifelong commitment to serving those in need.
Members are celebrated at an annual gathering with our bishop.
Learn more or share your intentionFOR YOU AND YOUR ADVISOR
A simple place to start.
When discussing a bequest, your attorney will need the Diocese’s legal name and may recommend language suited to your goals and state law.
SAMPLE BEQUEST LANGUAGE
“I give to the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, [the sum of $___ / ___% of my estate / the residue of my estate] to support its charitable purposes.”
This sample is educational, not legal advice. Please ask an attorney to prepare language appropriate to your estate plan and confirm the Diocese’s current legal and tax information before signing.
BEGIN A CONVERSATION
We’re here to listen.
A conversation is simply that—no pressure and no obligation. Tell us what you are considering, or ask for information to share with your advisor.
PLANNED GIVING GUIDE
Take the guide with you.
A printable overview of the giving options presented on this site—designed to support conversations with your family and professional advisors.