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. 

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).

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.

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.

Life Insurance Policy

Owners of individual paid-up life insurance policies that are  no longer needed to protect family members or a business,  may donate them by making Stanwich Church the beneficiary.   Or, create a new policy with Stanwich Church as the beneficiary. This approach can provide tax benefits for your estate.