What is Planned Giving?
Planned Giving is thinking about the things that you care about, that reflect your values and beliefs, and considering how they will continue, develop and thrive in the future, long after you are no longer here. Planned gifts are made through bequests in wills, life income gifts or donations of appreciated property (such as stock or real estate) and are a recognition that, in time, all accumulated assets must pass from one generation to the next. They are usually part of an individual’s financial and estate planning.
If you are interested in making a gift to St. James’ through Planned Giving, or would like more information, please contact
Vestry Members Diane Steckel or Nancy Corl.
Email: Diane at dmsteckel55@icloud.com or Nancy at ncorl@me.com
Or Call the Parish Office at 315-685-7600
Leaving a Legacy through Planned Giving
A legacy gift is focused on empowering the ministry and mission of St. James’ well into the future. Unlike a pledge to the annual stewardship campaign or weekly offerings that support the annual operating budget of the church, a gift to the St. James’ Foundation supports the long-term goals and needs of the church as the Vestry determines over time and as the ministry and mission of the church continue to change and grow. Although a legacy gift to St. James’ Foundation can be made at any time, it is more typical that such gifts are made through “planned giving” as part of an individual’s financial or estate planning.
Planned gifts (gifts that are made through bequests in wills, life income gifts, and donations of appreciated property such as stock or real estate) are a recognition that, in time, all accumulated assets must pass from one generation to the next. Planned giving provides an opportunity to think about the things that you care about, that reflect your values and beliefs, and to consider how they will continue, develop and thrive in the future, long after you are no longer here.
Please review the information below and consider making a planned gift to the St. James’ Foundation through your will or as part of your financial or estate planning.
The St. James’ Episcopal Church Foundation
• The Hazel Smith Fund, established in 1992, supports capital expenditures.
• The St. James’ Fund, established in 1993, is used for general support of the church.
• The Outreach Fund, established in 1998, supports outreach activities.
• The Bishop Kellogg Fund, established in 2000, supports general operations.
• The Leadership Support Fund, established in 2020, supports leadership – specifically clergy and staff – such as but not limited to salary, sabbatical funding, postulant support and funding a search process.
• The Mission Reserve Fund, established in 2021, holds the remainder of funds donated for mission as part of the “Standing Tall for Generations to Come Campaign,” a comprehensive capital campaign launched in 2013 primarily to support facility renovations and improvements.
Opportunities for Planned Giving
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Making a gift that supports the future ministry and mission of St. James’ is a great way to proclaim to the world what you have valued during your lifetime, to express your faith in the future and to leave a legacy for generations to come.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34 (NIV)
You Can Leave a Legacy Just Like Hazel!
You may have heard of Hazel Smith. Our Parish Hall is named after her. According to the history written by Kihm Winship in his book Skaneateles and St. James’ , Hazel was born in 1899, was a lifelong member of St. James’ and lived most of her life on Leitch Avenue in the Village of Skaneateles. She worked at Solvay Process for 38 years, and upon her retirement in 1964, she was the firm’s Senior Executive Secretary. Hazel served on the Altar Guild and volunteered at the St. James’ Thrift Shop and was an outgoing person, but a quiet giver. Upon her death in 1991 many were surprised to learn that St. James’ was the sole beneficiary under her last will and testament and that she had quietly amassed a significant sum of money that was to be used for the physical upkeep of the church. Thanks to Hazel’s legacy gift, and the ongoing management of these funds through the St. James’ Foundation, St. James’ has been able to make needed capital improvements to our building over the last 30 years, and we have all been the beneficiaries of her quiet stewardship.
In 2022, the church launched the “Give to Grow” Campaign to specifically raise monies for the Leadership Support Fund of the St. James’ Foundation. The recent growth we have experienced at St. James’ is a tribute to the leadership that we have in place and dependent on the continued development of new leaders for every aspect of our worship, continuing education, community service and life as a Christian community. Giving to the St. James’ Foundation Leadership Support Fund is a way to support these leadership needs and to sustain this type of growth well into the future. If you are interested in supporting this effort through planned giving or otherwise, go to StJamesSkan.org/Give-to-Grow.
