Planned Giving Workshop 2019

Pictured above: Peter Pereira, Jim Murphy, and Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick

The Diocese of Hawai'i held a Planned Giving Workshop on Saturday, June 8, 2019, at The Cathedral of St. Andrew.  The day long workshop was led by James Murphy, the Managing Program Director of Financial Resources for the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF), who oversees ECF’s Financial Resource development programs and resources. 

A record 29 congregations were represented, with 38  participants from around the Diocese. 

Diocesan Treasurer Peter Pereira, who arranged the event, was pleased with the turn out.  "Folks were really engaged and asked a lot of questions," said Peter.  "It was a great bunch, and I am excited at the potential of congregations to start planned giving in their congregations."

The Diocese covered the cost of at least one person from every neighbor island church to attend, and a number of the attendees serve as Treasurers or Stewardship leaders of their churches.

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"The Planned Giving Workshop couldn't have come at a better time! The newly-increased personal deduction eliminates the tax deductibility  of charitable giving for millions of taxpayers. Fortunately, the ECF shared many new giving strategies that can result in substantial current and long-term tax savings for many charitable donors. 

​ Jim Murphy from the ECF's office in New York City made an excellent, comprehensive presentation of the multitude of Planned Giving options, their advantages and disadvantages, and taught the group which giving strategies were most appropriate for various potential donor categories.

Peter made sure the workshop covered all the bases, giving the group terrific tools to help raise Planned Giving awareness in our congregations immediately and access to online resources to answer whatever questions arise in the future. Coming from Maui, it was a very long day, but one filled with extremely timely and actionable information." -- Trip Lynch, St. John's Episcopal, Kula, Maui

​​"Jim Murphy did a fine job letting them know how to start a planned giving program," said Peter, "developing relationships with donors, setting up endowments, and creating a legacy society.  I am praying that they will carry through and start a planned giving program in their congregations and encourage members to consider planned gifts."

What is Planned Giving?  Planned Giving is a way for individuals to remember their church, the Diocese or a ministry, after they are gone.  
The Diocese established the Ho'ike Ulu Legacy Society for those persons who have remembered their churches in their Wills or Estate Plans, and meets occasionally.  To learn more about Planned Giving in the Diocese, visit the Diocesan website HERE, or download the Ho'ike Legacy brochure HERE.  

I enjoyed the planned giving workshop.   They have good resources on getting started and mentioned different types of planned giving.  The resource I'm interested in is the "Planning for end of life ."   I'm getting older and I feel it's good to think about this now and have a plan.  -- Jan Hashizume, Treasurer, All Saints', Kapa'a, Kaua'i

About the Episcopal Church Foundation

ECF is an independent, lay-led organization that helps congregations, dioceses and other Episcopal communities of faith engage in visioning and planning, develop leadership and raise and manage resources for ministry.  On their website, it states:  ​

ECF’s programs, products, and services help congregations respond to the changing needs of the Episcopal Church in the 21st century.
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Through ECF’s programs lay and clergy leadership teams bring about transformation, renewal, and positive change in their communities, live out Christian stewardship, and develop new approaches to mission and ministry.

ECF serves lay and clergy leaders at all levels of the Episcopal Church in congregations, dioceses, and other Episcopal organizations. ECF also works directly with faithful individuals through resources such as ECF Vital Practices, webinars and educational events, and a Planned Giving Program.

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​Sybil Nishioka, Editor and Communications Contractor, Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i