Legacy Giving
A decision today can allow you to keep loving the least of these long after the Lord calls you Home.
A gift in your will, your retirement account, or your estate plan lets you keep advancing Jesus' kingdom — reaching the unreached, discipling His followers, and serving the suffering — for years to come.
No cost · no obligation · we'll never require you to share what you plan to give.
A note before you read on
Most people put off estate planning because it feels like a conversation about death or something that will happen far into the future. It isn't. It's a conversation, happening in the present, about stewardship — about what happens to everything the Lord placed in your hands while you were holding it. “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1); we are simply His stewards.
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40
A legacy gift is a decision you can make today to keep loving the least of these. It costs you nothing today. It can be changed at any time. And for many families it becomes the single largest act of generosity of their lives.
If you're not sure where to begin, begin with a conversation. Bring this conversation up with your financial advisor—we've coordinated with advisors for years and can work alongside them. Or our stewardship team can help you think through your estate planning from a biblical perspective at no cost or obligation — we'll never require you to share what you intend to give, and you'll always work with your own attorney on the legal documents.
Where people usually begin
Almost every legacy gift starts as one of these. You don't need an advisor to understand them, and none require you to part with anything now.
-
Simplest
Name us in your will
One sentence directs a percentage, a set amount, or whatever remains after your loved ones are cared for.
-
Most tax-wise
Name us as a beneficiary
Add Heaven's Family to a retirement account, insurance policy, or bank account — usually a single form.
-
Give during life
Give an appreciated asset
Stock, property, or a business interest can be given more efficiently than the cash you'd have after selling.
Every option, in plain language
Grouped by when your gift takes effect. Find the moment that fits you, then the option that sounds like your situation — and we'll walk through it together.
Given during your lifetime from assets you already hold — often with a tax advantage.
Appreciated stock or mutual funds
Giving shares directly carries a double tax benefit: a deduction for full fair market value and no capital gains tax on the growth.
IRA charitable rollover (QCD)
Also commonly known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution. At 70½ or older, give directly from your IRA up to the annual IRS limit; it can count toward your required minimum distribution.
Donor-advised fund
Recommend a grant to Heaven's Family now, or name us as a successor or beneficiary so the balance keeps working later.
Real estate and land
A home, farmland, or property can be given whole or in part — a deduction, no capital gains tax, and sometimes income.
Business interests & other assets
Closely held or S-corp stock, LLC shares, mineral rights, precious metals, and cryptocurrency can all be given, with care before a sale.
Arranged now, effective through your estate. Nothing leaves your hands today.
A gift in your will or trust
Name Heaven's Family for a percentage of your estate, a set amount, or whatever remains after your loved ones are provided for.
Retirement account beneficiary
IRAs and 401(k)s left to individuals are taxed as income to them, but a ministry receives the same dollars tax-free.
Life insurance
Name us as a beneficiary, or gift a paid-up policy during your life and receive a deduction for its fair market value.
Give generously and receive fixed payments back for as long as you live.
Charitable gift annuity
You make a gift and receive fixed payments for life at a rate set by your age. The remainder then supports the ministry.
Charitable remainder trust
Larger appreciated assets go into a trust and sell tax-free within it; it pays you or your family, then the remainder blesses the ministry.
Language for your will
Bring this to your attorney, or paste it into your online estate plan. Adjust the amount or percentage to fit your intentions.
I give and bequeath to Heaven's Family, a nonprofit corporation with its principal offices in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (federal tax ID 16-1739329), the sum of $______ (or _____ percent of the residue of my estate) to be used for its general charitable purposes.Please confirm our current legal name and tax identification number with us before finalizing your documents, and let us know if you'd like your gift directed to one of our focused ministries — safe water, orphan or widow care, anti-trafficking, refugee support, disaster relief, church planting, or Christ-centered business training.
Commonly Asked Questions
Do I have to be wealthy to leave a legacy gift?
No. Most legacy gifts are a percentage rather than a large sum. A modest bequest from an ordinary estate can drill a village well or support a church planter for years.
Will this reduce what my family receives?
Only if you choose. Scripture calls us to provide for our loved ones (1 Timothy 5:8). Many families provide fully for their heirs first and give from what remains.
Can I change my mind later?
Yes. Wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations can all be revised as your circumstances change. Nothing you tell us is binding.
Do I have to tell you what I've decided?
Not at all. Letting us know helps us steward the ministry's future and thank you properly, but many people in our family prefer to remain anonymous, and we honor that.
Can I direct my gift to a specific ministry?
Yes. Heaven's Family administers a number of focused ministries, so your gift can support our general work or a particular focus — safe water, orphan and widow care, anti-trafficking, refugees, and more.
What does this cost me?
Nothing to explore. Our stewardship team's help is a gift to you, with no cost or obligation. You'll still need your own attorney to prepare the documents.
Start the conversation
Tell us as much or as little as you'd like. A real person from our family will reply personally — there's no cost and no obligation.
* Required field
Punxsutawney, PA 15767