Planned Giving
How can you help ensure that First Parish will continue for many generations to come? Make a Lasting Gift by including The First Parish of Watertown in your Estate Plan. The First Parish of Watertown gratefully accepts bequests from donors who wish to include THE FIRST PARISH OF WATERTOWN in their estate plans. Bequests may be unrestricted or restricted to a particular purpose, and they may be in the form of specific property or amounts of funds, percentage of a total estate, or balance (residue) of an estate after other bequests are made. Sample language for these bequests is set forth here, along with a sample bequest intention letter that can be sent to the Minister. If you have any questions, please contact THE FIRST PARISH OF WATERTOWN’s Minister or have your attorney or estate planning professional contact her.
What is planned giving?
Planned giving is making arrangements now for how your money is disbursed when you die. Planning for legacy gifts allows the donor to express their personal values by integrating charitable, family, and financial goals. It is something you can do at age 20 or age 90, regardless of your financial resources.
Why consider a gift to FPW?
Your financial support will help ensure that future generations will inherit and enjoy this free faith and all that First Parish has to offer?
Are planned gifts important?
Yes! It is thanks to legacy gifts from past generations that First Parish exists today. Planned gifts, including charitable bequests made through a will, are often the single largest and most significant gifts an individual can make to our congregation.
What are my gift options?
There are many choices. You can select a specific program that is close to your heart to receive your gift or you can designate the funds to be unrestricted.
Your gift can be immediate or deferred. Some methods provide tax advantages for your estate. Others provide a lifetime income for you while protecting some assets for the designated recipient.
A Charitable Bequest
A Gift of Cash
Donate Your Retirement Plan Assets
A Gift of Life Insurance
Life Income Gifts
Securities or Real Estate
Why We Give
Sample Gift Language
To Make a General Unrestricted Bequest
I give __________ Dollars ($_______) to The First Parish of Watertown, for its general charitable purposes.
To Make a Restricted Bequest
I give __________ Dollars ($_______) to The First Parish of Watertown, to be used for ________________ [describe gift purpose, e.g. “to be added to Perpetuity Fund or its Helen Robinson Wright Fund ”; “to be used to support the building fund”].
To Make a Specific Bequest
I give __________ [property description, e.g. “my residence located at 123 Main Street, Boston, Massachusetts”; “___ shares of XYZ Corporation common stock”] to The First Parish of Watertown, for its general charitable purposes.
To Make a Residuary Bequest
I give the residue of my estate to The First Parish of Watertown, for its general charitable purposes.
To Make a Percentage Bequest
I give ____ Percent (___%) of the residue of my estate to The First Parish of Watertown, for its general charitable purposes.
Planned Giving Sample Bequest Letter
TODAY’S DATE
Dear Reverend __________,
It is my/our pleasure to inform you that I/we have named The First Parish Of Watertown (FPW) of Watertown, Massachusetts, as a beneficiary of my/our estate plan. This letter signifies my/our intention to make a bequest through my/our estate plan of approximately $_________ to be used [STATE YOUR DESIRED USE FOR THE GIFT: e.g., added to FPW’s Perpetuity OR Helen Robinson Wright Fund; or to be used for general charitable purposes; etc].
This gift will take the form of being [STATE THE TYPE OF GIFT THIS IS, e.g., the sole beneficiary of my/our Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or life insurance policy, or bequest in a will/trust, bank or investment account, etc].
Understanding that this gift intention may be changed at any time I/we will inform you should I/we change my/our intent toward FPW or should the dollar value of my/our potential donation significantly increase or decrease.
I/we am/are gratified to be able to support First Parish and the wonderful work it does, both in Watertown and in the world.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME(S)
ADDRESS
BE SURE TO KEEP A COPY OF THIS LETTER WITH YOUR ESTATE PLAN DOCUMENTS.
Thank you. First Parish is deeply grateful for those who have already made a legacy gift to our church.
For further information please see our Planned Giving Brochure and contact the church office at (617) 924-6143, and you will be put in touch with one of the Trustees.
First Parish does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult with your own advisors for your own individual circumstances.