But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?
Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
~1 Chronicles 29:14
Giving & Beyond:
God’s Word calls us to obediently “tithe” (give 10%) of what He gives us, to do His kingdom work. “Offerings” given to God are gifts above and beyond our tithes. Tithes and offerings are vital to the health of Our Church and provide for all the areas of ministry and outreach.
What does it mean to lavishly or sacrificially give? It is different for all people, it maybe sacrificing a fast food meal once a week and giving that cost to the church. What you give should be decided between you and God, and ask that you give in some way from a worshipful heart.
Prayerfully Consider:
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart what to give, not reluctantly of under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
We are asking that you prayerfully support and sacrificially give to fulfill God’s vision for the future of our Church. Come alongside and be part of the next phase of our story, and be part of what God is doing in Fairfield county.
STAMFORD BUILDING ACQUISITION FUND
Ways to Give
IN PERSON
Place your gift in the offering plate each Sunday. Small envelopes are available for cash and checks if you wish to designate your gift.
SECURITIES
You can receive a tax deduction on the appreciated value of securities donated to the church and avoid paying capital gains tax. Securities can easily be transferred to the Stanwich Church brokerage account by contacting Sheila Hyland, Executive Director, in the church office at 203-661-4420. Sheila will provide easy step-by-step instructions for completing the transfer.
BY MAIL
Checks may be sent directly to the church office at:
Stanwich Congregational Church
Attn: Financial Secretary
202 Taconic Road
Greenwich, CT 06831
ONLINE
Online giving is a safe and easy way to support Stanwich’s ministries. Online gifts may be charged to a credit card or established as an ACH transfer from your savings/checking account.
TEXT
You may Give by Text by sending a text message to our Stanwich Account at (844) 958-1245 and entering the amount you wish to give as the message. If you would like to give specifically to the Missions Fund, please type in the code MISS. More details can be found in the text guide. If you are giving to both operating and missions it would be seperate texts.
If you have not previously given by text, you will be prompted to first enter your debit or credit card information. Once you have registered, future gifts will be processed automatically. Our text giving solution meets the industry's highest standards for privacy and security. Click below to view our guide to give by text.
PLANNED GIVING
Planned giving allows you to support Stanwich Church in ways that allow you to maximize your gifts to grow God's Kingdom. Planned giving is often an integral component of estate and tax planning and should normally be undertaken with the assistance of a financial planner or attorney. See detals below.
IRA Distributions
Bequests
Remainder Trust
Life Income Gifts
Financial Transparency
FAQ
IRA Distributions
Members of the congregation who have reached the age of 70 1/2 can make a distribution from a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA directly to Stanwich Church and the distribution is excluded from adjusted gross income for income tax purposes. A charitable IRA distribution may be an effective means to lower taxes for tax payers who use the standard deduction as well as those who itemize deductions.
Bequests
Include Stanwich Church in your will, either in cash, property, or share of your estate value. Remembering Stanwich Church can be done as simply as instructing: “I give and bequeath to Stanwich Congregational Church of Greenwich ___ percentage of my total estate" (or as a fixed dollar value).
Remainder Trust
A Charitable Remainder Trust allows you to retain income from assets you give to Stanwich Church. You place the assets in a trust that will ultimately benefit Stanwich Church, and designate a fixed percentage of the trust to be paid annually to you, a family member, or other beneficiary. The income can be paid for life, or for a fixed number of years, at the end of which the assets pass to Stanwich Church.
Life Income Gifts
This allows you to transfer assets now, and yet continue to receive income from the cash, stock, or other contributed property. This form of gift is often made through a trust arrangement called an “annuity trust” or a “unitrust”. It can allow you to increase your income for life, plus receive a generous charitable contribution deduction, and if the contribution is in appreciated securities, avoid any capital gains tax. You will need to consult your family attorney for details.
Financial Transparency
"We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men." 2 Corinthians 8:20-21
Scripture requires a complete and thorough accounting for gifts given in service to the Lord. The leadership of Stanwich Church fully recognizes our responsibility for proper stewardship of church resources. Integral to this stewardship process is full and open transparency regarding budgeting and investment of your gifts in Kingdom growth as we strive "To Know Christ and Make Him Known."
To meet the goal of transparency and accountability, several financial reports are available for your review upon request. The current year budget for Stanwich Church is presented in the "Stanwich Congregational Church Stewardship 2020-2021" document. The budget highlights the ministry priorities established by the congregation and the planned spending to achieve the agreed upon ministry goals. The financial statements for the last fiscal year along with the external auditor's report are available here.