Ways to Support Main Street
Ways to Contribute
There are many ways to contribute to Main Street United Methodist Church of Columbia, South Carolina. One way is by your tithes and offerings. Online via our safe and secure giving portal, you may set up a recurring draft or make a one-time gift. You may give through your bank’s online billing service, by cash or check. We also accept stock/security gifts. And for larger legacy gifts and memorials, we have a Main Street UMC Endowment.
Each year, we also encourage people to fill out a pledge card to provide an estimate of their giving to the church in the upcoming year. Pledges help us plan our budget and how we can best serve the ministry of Jesus Christ.
If you have questions or would like help setting up your giving to Main Street UMC, please email our administrative assistant Chris Lopez.
Main Street Endowment Fund
“One generation will praise your works to the next one, proclaiming your mighty acts.”
Psalm 145:4
What Is The Main Street UMC Endowment Fund?
Why Should You Give to an Endowment
Many of us may not have tithed on IRA/401k money. Our mindset was to tithe on such funds as we withdrew them to fund our retirements. When we do move onto a better world, the remaining funds will likely be taxed heavily unless they are donated to a charity.
The Endowment Fund helps the church change people’s lives. We believe in making disciples of Jesus Christ.
When Do You Give to an Endowment?
Even though the largest gifts often occur when someone dies, someone’s death is far from a requirement. Members do choose to donate funds at other times.
Donating cash is probably the most common method, but there are other methods that may have better tax advantages for the donor. Gifts of property (real estate or securities) can be advantageous as can charitable remainder trusts, where the donor establishes a trust during their lifetime, uses the trust as long as they live and then specifies that, upon their death, the remaining amount go to the church.
In addition to bequeaths through wills and charitable remainder trusts, naming the church as one of the beneficiaries of a retirement account or life insurance policy may be a good alternative for some donors.
What Are My Options for Giving?
There are many ways to give, and the best way for you to make a gift depends upon your personal goals and circumstances. Some common options include:
- Outright gifts, including cash, property, stocks and bonds.
Wills or Trusts: In your will or trust you may name the Endowment Fund as the direct beneficiary of specific assets, a portion of your estate, or your residual estate. - Real Estate: Any form of real estate may be given, subject to acceptance by the church.
- Life insurance, Individual Retirement Accounts, 401(k), 403(b), or other qualified plans: Naming the Main Street UMC Endowment Fund as a beneficiary of part of all of the proceeds is a meaningful gift that doesn’t involve modifying your will or trust.
- Life Income Gifts such as charitable remainder trusts and gift annuities.
If you’d like more information, contact our chair for the endowment, Scott Mickey at scott@agridirections.com, or contact our associate pastor for development, Lex McDonald at namcdonald@umcsc.org.