Donor Stories

Bequests

Joe and Anna have demonstrated good stewardship through their faithful support to various ministries over the years. They believe it is important to provide gifts and offerings to their local Evangelical Free Church. In addition they want to join in the work the Lord is doing within the broader EFCA movement.

Joe: Several years ago, Anna and I became aware of the ministry initiatives of the EFCA national office and we decided to support them financially and pray for the EFCA's leadership. In various ways, the EFCA seeks to glorify God by multiplying healthy churches among all people. Lives are being changed. Families are being strengthened. The truth of the gospel is reaching the lost. We think that it is important to partner with them in the ways we can. For that reason, Anna and I have made gifts over the years for church planting.

Anna: We wanted to do more than to just make gifts. Joe and I have been careful over the years and have accumulated some resources. We plan to be generous with family, but we also have the ability to be generous with our ministry interests.

After talking it over, we decided to leave a bequest in our will. Our attorney took the simple language available from the EFCA Foundation and included a nice bequest. We are delighted that we will be supporting EFCA Church Planting efforts through the EFCA Foundation.

For more information about estate planning, bequests, and beneficiary designations:

1. Click Here for to Secure a Will Kit (Adobe PDF)
(Resource helps you organize affairs while saving you some attorney fees)
2. Click Here for Sample Bequest Language to share with attorney (Adobe PDF)
3. Click Here to let us know your plans (Adobe PDF)

Contact us at 800-995-8578 if you have questions related to gift and estate planning topics.

Thank you for considering naming the Evangelical Free Church of America within your estate plans. Happy Planning!

You also may want to make it easy and convenient to have a bequest included in your will. The language below shows how a bequest can very easily be included in your will.

You might find it helpful to select the "print" button on the top of your screen and print this page. You may feel free to give this page to your attorney. If he or she has any questions, please have them contact Lanny Harris at phone number 952-853-8417 or 800-995-8578 or e-mail me at lanny.harris@efca.org.

Please note: The name and image above is representative of a typical donor and may or may not be an actual donor to our organization. Since the charitable purpose of your bequest may be different from this person, you may want to contact us to discuss a bequest.

Example bequest language - Please feel free to change the numbers or percentages as you desire. These are offered as suggestions and are not meant to take the place of qualified legal counsel. See your attorney.

1. Bequest of cash

"I bequeath the sum of $20,000 to Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) Foundation of Minneapolis, MN, Tax ID: 41-0721672."

2. Bequest of a percent of the estate

"I devise and bequeath 20% of the remainder and residue of property owned at my death, whether real or personal, and wherever located to Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, Tax ID: 41-0721672."

3. Contingent Bequest

"If my brother John Doe survives me, I devise and bequeath 20% of the remainder and residue of property owned at my death, whether real or personal, and wherever located to John Doe. If John Doe does not survive me, then I devise and bequeath 20% of my residuary estate, whether real or personal property and wherever located to Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, Tax ID: 41-0721672."

4. An Income For Surviving Parents Or Others

"I give, devise and bequeath 50% of the rest residue and remainder of my estate to Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, Tax ID: 41-0721672. In the event that either or both of my parents, _____________ and ___________ are living at the time of my death, then in such an event, the EFCA Foundation in exchange for this gift shall issue an annuity contract which will provide quarterly payments to my parents or the survivor, at its regular annuity payment rates as applied to their or the survivors then age for as long as they or the survivor shall live."

You may print a Bequest tri-fold brochure. Voice of a Legacy or Will Your Will be Known.